# US 2018/0324903 A1 · Method of Rapidly Melting Metal for 3D Metal Printers by Electromagnetic Induction

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- Number: US 2018/0324903 A1
- Document ID: US20180324903A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/587,400
- Filed: 2017-05-05
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05
- Applicants: Dongguan Sai Wei Lai Te Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
- Inventors: Richard Zeng; Guang Xing Zeng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324903A1

## CPC

- H05B 6/367: {for melting furnaces}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
- B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- H05B 6/067: {for melting furnaces}
- H05B 6/34: Arrangements for circulation of melts
- H05B 6/42: Cooling of coils
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

This invention relates to the field of 3D metal printing, and more particularly to a method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction. This is a new cost-effective 3D metal printing method that enables direct heating and rapid melting of metals, higher energy conversion efficiency, higher deposition rates, smaller oxide, higher safety and controllability, faster printing, and larger-size metal components manufacturing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction, comprising a nozzle (R), a crucible (C), a middle-high frequency inverter power supply (P), an electromagnetic induction coil (B), a cooling device (D) and metal to be melted (M), the electromagnetic induction coil (B) surrounds the crucible (C), the cooling device (D) cools the electromagnetic induction coil (B), the middle-high frequency inverter power supply (P) drives the electromagnetic induction coil (B) to rapidly melt the metal to be melted (M) in the crucible (C) due to electromagnetic induction to form fluid or liquid of metal (L), the fluid or liquid of metal (L) is ejected through the nozzle (R).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the output signal of the middle-high frequency inverter power supply (P) is a sine wave with frequency from 200 Hz to 2 MHz.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the output signal of the middle-high frequency inverter power supply (P) is a square wave with frequency from 200 Hz to 2 MHz.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device (D) is in a water-cooling manner.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device (D) is in an air-cooling manner.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device (D) is in a semiconductor cooling manner.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic induction coil (B) is made of a hollow metal pipe that is injected circulating water for cooling through the cooling device (D).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the crucible (C) is made of non-electromagnetic induction material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein the crucible (C) is made of electromagnetic induction material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein a thermal insulation layer is used between the crucible (C) and the electromagnetic induction coil (B) for thermal isolation when the crucible (C) is made of electromagnetic induction material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of rapidly melting metal for 3D metal printers by electromagnetic induction according to claim 1, wherein a thermal insulation layer is used between the crucible (C) and the electromagnetic induction coil (B) for thermal isolation when the crucible (C) is made of non-electromagnetic induction material.