Build material formation
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsTimothy L. WEBER, James MCKINNELL, David A. CHAMPION, Mohammed S. SHAARAWI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for forming spherical particles may include a receiving chamber having a heating portion and a cooling portion. Wire segments may travel in a free fall through the receiving chamber. While falling through the heating portion, wire segments may be heated to form spherical particles in response to exposure to microwave electromagnetic radiation. While falling through the cooling portion, formed spherical particles cool.
Claims15
A device comprising:
- a receiving chamber to receive wire segments and through which the received wire segments are to travel in a free fall, the receiving chamber comprising:
- a heating portion through which the received wire segments are to travel in a free fall and in which the wire segments are to be heated and to form as spherical particles;
- and
- a cooling portion to allow the formed spherical particles to cool;
- and
- a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to emit microwave EMR, the to be emitted microwave EMR to be directed towards wire segments in the heating portion.
A method of forming metal particles for a build material, the method comprising:
- heating wire segments that travel through a heating portion of a receiving chamber in a free fall, wherein the heating portion comprises a reducing gas;
- directing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the heated wire segments in the heating portion to form spherical particles;
- and
- cooling the spherical particles in a quenching gas.
A device for forming spherical particles for a build material, the device comprising:
- a wire chopper to receive feed wire and form wire segments of a substantially uniform size, wherein the to be formed wire segments are to be allowed to travel in a free fall through a heating portion comprising heating elements, the heating portion comprising a controlled atmosphere;
- a microwave generator arranged to transmit generated microwave electromagnetic radiation (EMR) along a waveguide and into the heating portion, wherein the heating elements arranged in the heating portion are to heat the wire segments to a temperature below the melting point of the feed wire and the generated microwave EMR is to heat the wire segments to a temperature above the melting point of the feed wire to form spherical particles;
- and
- a cooling portion to receive the formed spherical particles and allow the temperature of the formed spherical particles to decrease below the melting point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.