# US 2023/0405677 A1 · Thermally decomposing build plate for facile release of 3d printed objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0405677 A1 - Document ID: US20230405677A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/454,606 - Filed: 2023-08-23 - Published: 2023-12-21 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-23 - Assignees: Indium Corporation - Applicants: Indium Corporation - Inventors: David P. Socha - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230405677A1 ## CPC - B22F 10/00: Additive manufacturing of workpieces or articles from metallic powder (apparatus or devices therefor B22F12/00) - B22F 12/30: Platforms or substrates - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - 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 - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B22F 10/64: by thermal means (control of energy beam parameters for post heating B22F10/364) - B22F 10/66: by mechanical means - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method includes: obtaining a build plate useable in a 3D printing device, the build plate including a recessed section extending through a top surface of the build plate, and the recessed section including first and second sidewalls, and a lower surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall; filling the recessed section with a liquid form of a metal or metal alloy; and cooling the metal or metal alloy below its solidus temperature such that the liquid form of the metal or metal alloy solidifies into a solid form of the metal or metal alloy. The solid form contacts the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the lower surface. The solid form includes a build surface for forming a 3D printed metal object in the 3D printing device. The 3D printed metal object is releasable by melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: obtaining a build plate useable in a 3D printing device, the build plate comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls; and a recessed section extending through the top surface and including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a lower surface between the top and bottom surfaces, the lower surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall; filling the recessed section with a liquid form of a metal or metal alloy; and cooling the metal or metal alloy below its solidus temperature such that the liquid form of the metal or metal alloy solidifies into a solid form of the metal or metal alloy that is in touching relation with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the lower surface, the solid form of the metal or metal alloy including a build surface for forming a 3D printed metal object in the 3D printing device, wherein the metal or metal alloy has a solidus temperature that is lower than a solidus temperature of the 3D printed metal object and lower than a solidus temperature of a material forming the top surface, the bottom surface, and the sidewalls of the build plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein filling the recessed section with a liquid form of the metal or metal alloy comprises pouring the liquid form of the metal or metal alloy through a hole extending from the bottom surface of the build plate through the lower surface of the recessed section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: printing, using the 3D printing device, the 3D printed metal object onto the build surface of the solid form of the metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: after printing the 3D printed metal object onto the build surface: melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy by heating the metal or metal alloy above the solidus temperature of the metal or metal alloy; and after melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy, releasing the 3D printed metal object from the build plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: after melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy: removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section comprises: draining the metal or metal alloy through a hole extending from the lower surface of the recessed section through the bottom surface of the build plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: collecting, in a container, the melted metal or metal alloy removed from the recessed section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: after removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section: refiling the recessed section with a liquid form of a refill metal or metal alloy; and cooling the refill metal or metal alloy below its solidus temperature such that the liquid form of the refill metal or metal alloy solidifies into a solid form of the refill metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the refill liquid metal or metal alloy comprises the metal or metal alloy removed from the recessed section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the build surface of the solid form of the metal or metal alloy is flush to the top surface of the build plate. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: obtaining a build plate assembly useable in a 3D printing device, the build plate assembly comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls; a recessed section formed through the top surface, the recessed section including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a lower surface between the top and bottom surfaces, the lower surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall; and a solid form of a metal or metal alloy filling the recessed section such that it is in touching relation with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the lower surface, the solid form of the metal or metal alloy including a build surface; and printing, using the 3D printing device, a 3D printed metal object onto the build surface of the solid form of the metal or metal alloy, wherein the metal or metal alloy has a solidus temperature that is lower than a solidus temperature of the 3D printed metal object and lower than a solidus temperature of a material forming the top surface, the bottom surface, and the sidewalls of the build plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: after printing the 3D printed metal object onto the build surface: melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy by heating the metal or metal alloy above the solidus temperature of the metal or metal alloy; and after melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy, releasing the 3D printed metal object from the build plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: after melting the solid form of the metal or metal alloy: removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section comprises: draining the metal or metal alloy through a hole extending from the lower surface of the recessed section through the bottom surface of the build plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: after removing the melted metal or metal alloy from the recessed section: refiling the recessed section with a liquid form of a refill metal or metal alloy; and cooling the refill metal or metal alloy below its solidus temperature such that the liquid form of the refill metal or metal alloy solidifies into a solid form of the refill metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the build surface of the solid form of the metal or metal alloy is flush to the top surface of the build plate. ### Claim 17 An additive manufacturing system, comprising: a build plate useable in a 3D printing device, the build plate comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls; and a recessed section extending through the top surface and including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a lower surface between the top and bottom surfaces, the lower surface extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall; and a solid form of a metal or metal alloy filling the recessed section such that it is in touching relation with the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the lower surface, the solid form of the metal or metal alloy including a build surface for forming a 3D printed metal object in the 3D printing device, wherein the metal or metal alloy has a solidus temperature that is lower than a solidus temperature of the 3D printed metal object and lower than a solidus temperature of a material forming the top surface, the bottom surface, and the sidewalls of the build plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The additive manufacturing system of claim 17, wherein the solid form of the metal or metal alloy was formed by: filling the recessed section with a liquid form of the metal or metal alloy; and cooling the metal or metal alloy below its solidus temperature such that the liquid form of the metal or metal alloy solidified into the solid form. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The additive manufacturing system of claim 17, further comprising: a 3D printing device; and a powder of a second metal or metal alloy used to form the 3D printed metal object, the second metal or metal alloy having a solidus temperature that is higher than a solidus temperature of the metal or metal alloy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The additive manufacturing system of claim 17, wherein the build surface of the solid form of the metal or metal alloy is flat and flush at top edges of the recessed section of the build plate.