Methods and apparatus for 3D fabrication
AssigneeImpossible Objects, Inc.
InventorsRobert Swartz, Buckley Crist, Joseph Fallon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an illustrative implementation of this invention, a 3D object comprises substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers.
Claims20
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a mechanism for selectively depositing an adhering agent in a desired pattern onto portions of sheet-like substrate material, wherein a layer of said sheet-like material corresponds to a layer of the three-dimensional (3D) object;
- at least one applicator configured for applying powder onto the sheet-like substrate material;
- a removal mechanism to remove loose powder;
- and
- an artificial pressure source, the pressure source being configured for applying pressure to one or more of the layers;
- wherein the pressure is applied during softening of the powder.
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a mechanism for selectively depositing an adhering agent in a desired pattern onto portions of sheet-like substrate material, wherein a layer of said sheet-like material corresponds to a layer of the three-dimensional (3D) object;
- at least one applicator configured for applying powder onto the sheet-like substrate material;
- a removal mechanism to remove loose powder;
- a heating element, the heating element being configured for transforming the powder into matter that flows and then hardens into a hardened substance, which hardened substance binds layers of sheet-like substrate material together and is disposed in a spatial pattern that infiltrates the layers that combine to form the three-dimensional (3D) object;
- and
- an artificial pressure source, the pressure source being configured for applying pressure to one or more of the layers;
- wherein the pressure is applied during softening of the powder.
An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a mechanism for selectively depositing an adhering agent in a desired pattern onto portions of sheet-like substrate material, wherein a layer of said sheet-like material corresponds to a layer of the three-dimensional (3D) object;
- at least one applicator configured for applying powder onto the sheet-like substrate material;
- a removal mechanism to remove loose powder;
- at least one alignment mechanism configured to accurately align the powdered substrate layers into a stack;
- and
- an artificial pressure source, the pressure source being configured for applying pressure to one or more of the layers;
- wherein the pressure is applied during softening of the powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.