Method for the free form fabrication of articles out of electrically conductive filaments using localized heating
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating composite articles, comprising:
- providing an electrically conductive filament comprising a first material that is electrically conductive and a polymer second material; and
wherein the polymer second material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer and a partially cured thermosetting polymer;
supplying electrical current to the electrically conductive filament to heat the filament wherein the electrical current ranges from about 1 μ
A to about 1 MA,depositing the heated filament on a substrate in successive layers to adhere the polymer material of the layers together and build up a three dimensional article having strands of the first material embedded in a substantially continuous polymer matrix of the second material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of fabricating composite articles includes supplying electrical current to an electrically conductive filament. The electrically conductive filament may include a first material that is electrically conductive and a polymer second material. The polymer second material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer and a partially cured thermosetting polymer. The heated filament is deposited according to a predefined pattern in successive layers to adhere the polymer material of the layers together and build up a three dimensional article. The article includes strands of the first material embedded in a substantially continuous polymer matrix of the second material.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating composite articles, comprising:
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providing an electrically conductive filament comprising a first material that is electrically conductive and a polymer second material; and
wherein the polymer second material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer and a partially cured thermosetting polymer;supplying electrical current to the electrically conductive filament to heat the filament wherein the electrical current ranges from about 1 μ
A to about 1 MA,depositing the heated filament on a substrate in successive layers to adhere the polymer material of the layers together and build up a three dimensional article having strands of the first material embedded in a substantially continuous polymer matrix of the second material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of printing an article, comprising:
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providing data describing a geometry of an article to be printed; providing electrically conductive filament that is bondable when heated to a bonding temperature electrically coupling the electrically conductive filament to first and second electrodes of a printing device; causing the printing device to print the article utilizing the data, wherein printing the article includes passing electrical current through the electrically conductive filament to heat the electrically conductive filament wherein the electrical current ranges from about 1 μ
A to about 1 MA, and depositing the heated filament onto a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of printing an article, comprising:
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passing electrical current through an electrically-conductive filament to heat the electrically-conductive filament wherein the electrical current ranges from about 1 μ
A to about 1 MA; anddepositing the heated electrically conductive filament onto a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification