3d printing into a liquid medium
AssigneeDesktop Metal, Inc.
InventorsCharles John Haider, Michael Andrew Gibson, Richard Remo Fontana, Alexander C. Barbati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-dimensional printer includes a vessel containing a liquid in which a printed object can debind during fabrication. More generally, the vessel may contain any liquid medium selected to control or modify properties of a printed object during fabrication. For example, the liquid may also or instead impose a controlled thermal environment for the printed object, apply finishing materials to an exterior surface of the object, provide a component or catalyst for a reaction, or otherwise treat the printed object or control ambient conditions during printing.
Claims22
-29. (canceled)
A printer system for the fabrication of a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a build plate;
- a nozzle movable relative to the build plate and configured to deposit a plurality of successive layers of build material according to a computerized model of the object, the build material including a binder and sinterable particles;
- a vessel containing a debinding liquid;
- and
- a robotic system configured to move the build plate within the vessel during the depositing of the successive layers such that the deposited build material contacts the debinding liquid.
The printer of claim 31, further comprising a heater in communication with the vessel to maintain a predetermined temperature within the vessel.
A method for fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
- moving a nozzle relative to a build plate and depositing a plurality of successive layers of build material according to a computerized model of the object, the build material including a binder and sinterable particles;
- during the step of depositing the successive layers, operating a robotic system to move the build plate into a vessel containing a debinding liquid such that the deposited build material contacts the debinding liquid.
A method for fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of successive layers of build material according to a computerized model of the object, the build material including a binder and sinterable particles;
- simultaneously operating a robotic system to move the plurality of successive layers into a vessel containing a debinding liquid such that the successive layers contact the debinding liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.