Method and a system for solid freeform fabricating using non-reactive powder
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsLaura Kramer, Vladek P Kasperchik, Terry M. Lambright, Melissa D. Boyd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder includes spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate, selectively dispensing a reactive resin onto the non-reactive powder forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein the selective dispensing of the reactive resin defines the three-dimensional object, and curing the reactive resin thereby encapsulating the non-reactive powder.
Claims20
A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder comprising:
- spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate;
- heating a reactive resin to a temperature of about 40 to 200 degrees Celsius (C);
- selectively dispensing said heated reactive resin onto said non-reactive powder, forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein said mixture defines said three-dimensional object;
- and
- curing said reactive resin thereby encapsulating said non-reactive powder.
A solid freeform fabrication system for producing a three-dimensional object using non-reactive powder comprising:
- a powder spreading system configured to spread a specified quantity of non-reactive powder to form a layer of said powder on a substrate;
- a dispensing system adapted to selectively dispense both components of a two-part reactive resin onto said layer of non-reactive powder;
- and
- a computing device coupled to and configured to control said dispensing system and said powder spreading system;
- wherein said dispensing system comprises an inkjet dispenser.
A solid freeform fabrication system for producing a three-dimensional object using non-reactive powder comprising:
- spreading means for spreading successive layers of said non-reactive powder;
- dispensing means for dispensing a reactive resin onto said non-reactive powder;
- curing means for curing said reactive resin, wherein said curing means only partially cures a layer of reactive resin until at least one additional layer of non-reactive powder and selectively-dispensed reactive resin have been formed, said reactive resin then being fully cured so as to promote adhesion between layers of said object;
- and
- controlling means for controlling said spreading means, said dispensing means, and said curing means.
A method for creating three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder comprising:
- spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate;
- selectively dispensing a reactive resin onto said non-reactive powder, forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein said mixture defines said three-dimensional object:
- applying ultrasonic energy to said mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder;
- and
- curing said reactive resin thereby encapsulating said non-reactive powder;
- wherein curing said reactive resin further comprises:
- partially curing said reactive resin;
- applying at least one other layer of non-reactive powder and selectively-dispensed reactive resin;
- and
- fully curing said reactive resin after said at least one other layer is formed to promote adhesion between layers of said object.
A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder comprising:
- spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate;
- selectively dispensing a reactive resin onto said non-reactive powder, forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein said mixture defines said three-dimensional object;
- partially curing said reactive resin;
- applying at least one other layer of non-reactive powder and selectively-dispensed reactive resin;
- and
- fully curing said reactive resin after said at least one other layer is formed to promote adhesion between layers of said object.
A system for fabricating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder comprising:
- a system for spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate;
- an inkjet dispenser for selectively dispensing a reactive resin onto said non-reactive powder, forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein said mixture defines said three-dimensional object;
- and
- a curing system for curing said reactive resin thereby encapsulating said non-reactive powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.