Additive manufacturing processing with oxidation
AssigneeDelavan Inc.
InventorsSergey Mironets, William L. Wentland, Matthew Donovan, Thomas J. Ocken, Robert Bianco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes additively manufacturing an article in an inert environment, removing the article from the inert environment and placing the article in a non-inert environment, allowing at least a portion the article to oxidize in the non-inert environment to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the article, and removing the oxidized layer (e.g., to smooth the surface of the article). The method can further include relieving stress in the article (e.g., via heating the article after additive manufacturing).
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- additively manufacturing an article in an inert environment;
- removing the article from the inert environment and placing the article in a non-inert environment;
- allowing at least a portion the article to oxidize in the non-inert environment to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the article;
- and,
- removing the oxidized layer;
- wherein allowing at least a portion of the article to oxidize includes controlling at least one of a humidity, air quality, or temperature to control oxidation rate and/or oxidation layer thickness.
A method of modifying an additively manufactured article, comprising:
- forming an oxidation layer to a predetermined uniform thickness upon portions of the additively manufactured article;
- and removing the oxidation layer.
A method, comprising:
- additively manufacturing an article in an inert environment;
- masking a portion of the article to prevent oxidation of the masked portion;
- removing the article from the inert environment and placing the article in a non-inert environment;
- allowing at least a portion the article to oxidize in the non-inert environment to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the article;
- and,
- removing the oxidized layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.