Cooling techniques in solid freeform fabrication
Assignee3D Systems, Inc.
InventorJon Jody Fong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling system for removing heat from the layers of a three-dimensional object built in a layerwise manner from a build material in a solid freeform fabrication apparatus. The cooling system provides an air duct that delivers a uniform sheet of air flow over the layers of the three-dimensional object while it is built. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Claims13
A cooling system in an apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects, the cooling system removing heat from layers of a three-dimensional object formed in a layerwise manner from a build material selectively deposited from at least one orifice in a build chamber, the system being within and in fluid flow communication with the build chamber and comprising:
- at least one fan for generating a flow of air through the build chamber;
- at least one air duct having an inlet end and an exit end opening into the build chamber, the air duct being in communication with the fan for receiving the flow of air at the inlet end, the air duct shaping the flow of air into a uniform sheet of air flow and delivering the uniform sheet of air flow from the exit end across the layers of the three-dimensional object in the build chamber, said air duct has a protrusion on the exit end, the protrusion diverting the uniform sheet of air flow away from the air duct and towards the layers of the three-dimensional object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.