Method and apparatus for depositing molten metal
OwnerRobert Merz, Fritz B. Prinz +1inventors
InventorsRobert Merz, Fritz B. Prinz, Lee E. Weiss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A collector electrode and adjacent electric weld torch are placed at a selected distance from a work surface or substrate. An electric welding current is generated so that a welding current arc forms between the collector electrode and the weld torch. A feed metal is then fed into the welding current arc and is melted into molten metal adjacent to the collector electrode. The molten metal is then deposited onto a work surface. The collector electrode and weld torch are positioned so that the welding current arc between the weld torch and the collector electrodes does not penetrate the work surface or the already-deposited metal.
Claims29
An apparatus for depositing molten metal to form a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a rotatable collector electrode located a selected distance above a work surface;
- a weld torch located a selected distance from the collector electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the collector electrode and the weld torch, the relative position of the welding current to the collector electrode and the weld torch remaining fixed;
- and
- means for feeding a feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into molten metal and transfer the molten metal towards the collector electrode so that the molten metal is deposited onto the work surface below the collector electrode to form a three-dimensional object.
An apparatus for depositing molten metal to form a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a collector electrode located a selected distance above a work surface;
- a weld torch located a selected distance from the collector electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the collector electrode and the weld torch, the relative position of the welding current to the collector electrode and the weld torch remaining fixed;
- means for feeding a feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into molten metal and transfer the molten metal towards the collector electrode so that the molten metal is deposited onto the work surface below the collector electrode to form a three-dimensional object;
- and
- a cleaning brush that is in contact with the collector electrode.
A method for depositing molten metal to form a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- positioning a collector electrode a selected distance above a work surface;
- positioning a weld torch a selected distance from the collector electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the collector electrode and the weld torch;
- placing sufficient feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into molten metal adjacent the collector electrode which molten metal is deposited onto the work surface below the collector electrode to form a three-dimensional object consisting of a plurality of deposited layers of feed metal;
- and
- removing the three-dimensional object from the work surface.
An apparatus for depositing molten metal onto a work surface to form a three-dimensional object thereon, comprising:
- a collector electrode located a selected distance above the work surface, the collector electrode being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation being generally parallel with the work surface;
- a weld torch located a selected distance above the collector electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the collector electrode and the weld torch, the relative position of the welding current to the collector electrode and the weld torch remaining fixed;
- and
- means for feeding a feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into molten metal and transfer the molten metal onto the collector electrode, wherein the molten metal then drops onto the work surface ad the molten metal's drop from the collector electrode onto the work surface is accelerated by the centrifugal force at the rotating collector electrode.
A method for depositing molten metal onto a work surface to form a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- providing a collector electrode a selected distance above the work surface, the collector electrode being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation being generally parallel with the work surface;
- providing a weld torch a selected distance above the collector electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the collector electrode and the weld torch, the relative position of the welding current to the collector electrode and the weld torch remaining fixed;
- and
- feeding sufficient feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into molten metal and transfer the molten metal onto the collector electrode, wherein the molten metal then drops onto the work surface to form a three-dimensional object and the molten metal's drop from the collector electrode onto the work surface is accelerated by centrifugal force at the rotating collector electrode.
A method for depositing molten metal to form a three-dimensional object, comprising:
- positioning a first electrode a selected distance above a work surface;
- positioning a second electrode a selected distance from the first electrode, wherein an electric welding current travels between the electrodes and above the work surface;
- placing sufficient feed metal into the welding current so that the welding current can melt the feed metal into discrete molten metal droplets adjacent the first electrode which molten metal is dropped onto the work surface below the first electrode to form a three-dimensional object comprised of a plurality of incremental layers;
- and
- removing the three-dimensional object from the work surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.