Support structure removal system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A support structure removal system comprising:
- removal tank having an interior volume for holding a support removal fluid and configured to receive two or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a support structure connected thereto;
an alignment system comprising two or more spaced apart alignment mechanisms within the removal tank;
two or more removable porous vessels, wherein in each vessel is configured to receive one or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a support structure;
an agitation system comprising two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms independently operable of one another; and
wherein the two or more alignment mechanisms are configured to align at least one of the two or more porous vessels with one of the two or more agitation mechanisms, wherein the two or more agitation mechanisms are configured to locally agitate the support removal fluid proximate the two or more three-dimensional parts to remove the support structures of the two or more three-dimensional parts independently of one another.
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Abstract
A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.
61 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A support structure removal system comprising:
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removal tank having an interior volume for holding a support removal fluid and configured to receive two or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a support structure connected thereto; an alignment system comprising two or more spaced apart alignment mechanisms within the removal tank; two or more removable porous vessels, wherein in each vessel is configured to receive one or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a support structure; an agitation system comprising two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms independently operable of one another; and wherein the two or more alignment mechanisms are configured to align at least one of the two or more porous vessels with one of the two or more agitation mechanisms, wherein the two or more agitation mechanisms are configured to locally agitate the support removal fluid proximate the two or more three-dimensional parts to remove the support structures of the two or more three-dimensional parts independently of one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of removing a support structure comprising:
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placing two or more three-dimensional parts into two or more porous vessels, each three-dimensional part having a support structure connected thereto, into a removal tank having an interior volume holding a support removal fluid therein, wherein the two or more porous vessels engage an alignment system comprising two or more spaced apart alignment mechanisms within the removal tank to retain the two or more porous vessels in selected locations within the removal tank; and to align at least one of the two or more porous vessels with an agitation system comprising two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms independently operable of one another;
activating the agitation system; andagitating the support removal fluid with the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanism proximate the two or more three-dimensional parts to remove the support structures of the two or more three-dimensional parts independently of one another and at staggered and overlapping times. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification