Device and materials fabrication and patterning via shaped slot electrode control of direct electrostatic powder deposition

#1. Technical Field

#Devices for fabrication of three-dimensional objects from powder starting materials.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The present disclosure will be provided with reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a magnetic brush development system with mixture of powder and permanently magnetized beads;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of powder deposition onto a moving substrate with stationary slot shaped electrode;

#The present invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiments described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

#For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. It is to be understood that the overall scale of the drawings and the relative sizes of particular features are as shown for the sake of clarity of illustration, and may vary from that shown.

#The inventions disclosed herein may be used for fabrication of a wide variety of devices and materials by using shaped slot electrode control of direct electrostatic powder deposition. To fully illustrate the process, a detailed description with certain preferred embodiments are provided. The deposition process of the invention involves an advantageous configuration between the elements of a charged powder source, shaped slot electrode(s) and a powder deposition substrate.