Device, special paper, and method for producing shaped articles

• US 10,442,170 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Gunther, Daniel, Ederer, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sengupta, Sonya M
• Application Number:
  US15/105,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 156277, 156291, 156295
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/147 using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/12 on paper layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2317/12 Paper, e.g. cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 29/005 next to another layer of paper or cardboard layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/14 applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 5/00 Special paper or cardboard not otherwise provided for duplicating or recording paper B41M

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, a special paper and a method for producing three-dimensional objects.

Claims

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional body, comprising the steps of:

a. printing on a special paper;

b. repeating the printing step until all sectional drawings of a three-dimensional body are present on the special paper in a given layer thickness of the special paper;

c. organizing all printed special papers obtained in step b.) into a suitable arrangement;

d. binding the special papers arranged in this manner;

e. removing the obtained three-dimensional body from unbound special paper;

wherein the special paper includes the following properties;

a. an activatable tendency to bind with an adjacent layer of a special paper;

b. a variable tendency to be dissolved by printing with a medium;

c. a capacity of the special papers to bind to each other due to the activation in the areas defined by printing; and

d. a solubility of the unbound special paper due to the action of a suitable solvent, heat and/or mechanical energy.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that individual sheets, unseparated paper rolls, or perforated paper rolls are used as the special paper.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the printing takes place with the aid of an ink-jet printer, a dot matrix printer, or a laser printer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method includes a step of applying a water-containing substance to the special paper by the ink-jet printer, or applying a thermoplastic to the special paper by the laser printer, or applying a highly viscous adhesive to the special paper by a ribbon of the dot matrix printer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding action is triggered by thermal energy and/or by pressure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the binding action is triggered by another substance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes removing an unbound portion of the special paper from the three-dimensional body by a dissolution process in a solvent, by a thermal process or mechanically.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the three-dimensional body is subjected to additional processing steps, including saturating or perfusing the three-dimensional body and/or an applying or introducing a substance for hardening the three-dimensional body.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of removing employs predetermined break points.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the special paper includes a basic substance selected from the group consisting of a cellulose fiber, a plastic, a naturally occurring substance, a metal, a stone, a mineral, a ceramic, and any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the special paper is in the form of a sheet or a roll;

and wherein a binding capacity takes place due to variable microwave selectivity in the special paper.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the special paper is in the form of a sheet or a roll;

and wherein a binding capacity takes place due to the presence or absence of a diffusible medium.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the special paper is in the form of a sheet or a roll;

and wherein a binding capacity takes place due to the diffusion of a temperature-activatable substance.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the special paper is formed of materials that are essentially non-toxic.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the special paper includes a fluid or a powder which provides a binding capacity to the special paper.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein a binding capacity of the special paper is provided by a substance added to the special paper or by changing a property of the special paper.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation of a binding capacity of the special paper takes place by a transferring of a fluid or a powder from an ink ribbon of a dot matrix printer, from an ink of an ink-jet printer or from a fixed powder of a laser printer or a laser copier.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises obtaining position information in a series of special papers in a stack or a roll using a sensor system;

and correcting the printed images or the positions based on the position information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein method includes guiding and positioning the special paper;

and wherein the step of printing includes printing with an ink-jet printer, a laser printer, or a dot matrix printer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method includes a step of applying a finishing treatment.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the method includes controlling a temperature of the special paper with a temperature control unit.