# US 7,607,211 B2 · Device for producing plates designed for a fast prototyping process, method for machining and assembling said plates and resulting plates and prototype workpieces

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- Number: US 7,607,211 B2
- Document ID: US7607211B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/276,217
- Filed: 2001-05-14
- Published: 2003-08-07
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2001-05-14
- Assignees: Centre d'Ingéniérie de Recherche et de Transfert de l'Esstin à Saint Die (C.I.R.T.E.S.)
- Inventors: Claude Barlier; Alain Wadsworth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607211B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B21B 1/46: for rolling metal immediately subsequent to continuous casting (metal-rolling stands B21B13/22; continuous casting B22D11/00, e.g. into moulds with rolls B22D11/06)
- B29C 31/041: {using filling or dispensing heads placed in closed moulds or in contact with mould walls (B29C45/27 takes precedence)}
- B29C 33/0055: {with incorporated overflow cavities (in particular in injection moulds B29C45/2669)}
- B29C 33/02: with incorporated heating or cooling means
- B29C 39/24: Feeding the material into the mould
- B29C 2793/009: after shaping
- Y10T 29/49805: Shaping by direct application of fluent pressure
- Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- Y10T 29/49995: Shaping one-piece blank by removing material
- Y10T 29/49998: Work holding
- Y10T 29/51: Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
- Y10T 29/5184: Casting and working
- 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)
- B21B: ROLLING OF METAL (auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working operations covered in B21, see B21C; bending by rolling B21D; manufacture of particular objects, e.g. screws, wheels, rings, barrels, balls, by rolling B21H; pressure welding by means of a rolling mill B23K20/04)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A device for producing plates made of metal, plastic or a metallo-plastic composite material, including thermofusible, thermoplastic and thermosettable materials, by machining with a machining tool in a fast prototyping process, includes a plate mold integrated in the prototyping machine. The mold is adapted to receive a material matching the shape of the mold, and to subject the plate to a heating/cooling cycle using a heating/cooling device integrated in the mold body, and additionally includes a vat (2), a base plate (3), a heating circuit (4) and a fluid circulation circuit (5).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for producing plates in a rapid prototyping process, wherein the plates are machined by a machine tool of a prototyping machine, and wherein the device comprises:
a plate mold incorporated in the prototyping machine and having a defined shape, wherein the prototyping machine includes the machine tool, wherein the mold is configured to receive a material selected from the group of materials consisting essentially of metals, plastics and metallo-plastic composites, including thermofusible, thermoplastic and thermosettable materials, in a shape that hugs the shape of the mold, and wherein the mold has a body which incorporates a heater and a cooling device for subjecting a plate to a heating and cooling cycle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 which further includes a tank formed in the body of the mold, a baseplate associated with bottom portions of the tank, and a heating circuit and a fluid-circulating circuit associated with bottom portions of the body of the mold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2 wherein the bottom portions of the tank include a perforated plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein resistive heating elements and fluid-circulating tubes pass longitudinally through the perforated plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the perforated plate includes perforations extending transversely through the perforated plate, and wherein the perforations place a free face of the tank in communication with a lower reservoir of fluid provided in the body of the mold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2 wherein the fluid-circulating circuit includes a piston for controlling movement of the fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2 wherein the fluid-circulating circuit includes a pneumatic device for controlling movement of the fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 which further includes a retractable top plate for temporarily closing the mold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the shape of the mold for receiving the material includes surface portions which are open to exterior portions of the mold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the plates are machined while in a solid state.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10 wherein the plates are machined directly in the mold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11 wherein the plates are milled directly in the mold.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10 wherein the plates are released from the mold after being machined.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13 wherein the plates are ejected from the mold after being machined.

### Claim 15

A process for machining a plate constituting a laminate for a collection of laminates placed as an array in a rapid prototyping process defined by a computer-aided breakdown of a part into the laminates, comprising the steps of:
machining the plate in a mold incorporated in a rapid prototyping machine, wherein the mold has a defined shape, and wherein the mold receives material for producing the plate in a shape that hugs the shape of the mold; and
subjecting the machined plate to a heating and cooling cycle while in the mold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 which further includes the step of forming the plate of a material selected from the group of materials consisting essentially of metals, plastics and metallo-plastic composites which are capable of changing from a liquid phase to a solid phase.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 which further includes the step of forming the plate of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of thermosettable and thermoplastic materials.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9 wherein the surface portions are exposed to the machine tool during the machining of the material received in the mold.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18 wherein the exposed surface portions receive the machine tool during the machining of the material received in the mold.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18 wherein the machine tool is separate from the mold.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18 wherein the machine tool is positioned over the mold.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 wherein the shape of the mold for receiving the material includes surface portions which are open to exterior portions of the mold, and wherein the process further includes the step of exposing the open surface portions to a machine tool during the machining of the plate.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The process of claim 22 which further includes the step of machining the exposed surface portions with the machine tool during the machining of the plate.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The process of claim 23 wherein the machine tool is separate from the mold.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 which further includes the steps of heating the material for producing the plate, following the machining, and ejecting the machined plate from the mold following the heating.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 wherein the heating and cooling cycle includes the steps of holding the plate in the mold in a cold state during the machining, and releasing the machined plate from the mold by heating lower portions of the plate sufficient to detach the plate from the mold after the machining.

### Claim 27 (depends on 15)

The process of claim 15 which further includes the step of machining the plate while in a solid state.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The process of claim 27 which further includes the step of machining the plate directly in the mold.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The process of claim 28 which further includes the step of milling the plate directly in the mold.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The process of claim 27 which further includes the step of releasing the plate from the mold after being machined.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The process of claim 30 which further includes the step of ejecting the plate from the mold after being machined.