Temperature measurement and control for liquid metal jetting three-dimensional printing

Abstract

A method for controlling temperature in a liquid metal three-dimensional (3D) printing system is disclosed, including ejecting a liquid metal drop from a nozzle onto a deposition location to form a portion of a three-dimensional object. The method also includes measuring a temperature at a measurement spot location offset from the deposition location, and comparing the measured temperature with a set point temperature in the deposition location, adjusting a cooling rate of the liquid metal drop. The deposition follows a toolpath to form the portion of the three-dimensional object. The measurement spot location can be located within the toolpath or outside of a toolpath of the three-dimensional object being formed. An additive manufacturing device configured to perform the method includes a printhead that includes a nozzle having an inner cavity, where the nozzle is configured for ejecting droplets of liquid metal drops to form a three-dimensional object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.