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Pneumatic jetting of metal for additive manufacturing

  • US 10,639,716 B2
  • Filed: 03/03/2017
  • Issued: 05/05/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for pneumatically jetting liquid metal, comprising:

  • a nozzle defining a volume and including an open discharge orifice;

    a media source configured to deliver metal to the volume of the nozzle;

    a heater configured to heat the metal such that the metal that exits the discharge orifice is liquid metal from a meniscus of liquid metal formed at the open discharge orifice;

    a source of pressurized gas in fluid communication with the volume of the nozzle through a first port;

    a first valve configured to selectively permit flow of pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to the volume of the nozzle through the first port;

    wherein when the first valve is in a first position pressurized gas flows to the volume of the nozzle such that a pneumatic force is exerted on the liquid metal in the volume of the nozzle so as to eject an amount of liquid metal through the discharge orifice; and

    wherein when the first valve is in a second position the flow of pressured gas to the volume of the nozzle is interrupted such that ejection of the liquid metal is interrupted.

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