Powder removal system for three-dimensional object fabricator
First Claim
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1. An unbound powder removal system for a three-dimensional object fabricator that forms an object in a chamber of unbound powder by binding regions of the unbound powder, said unbound powder removal system including:
- a vacuum vent operably secured to a boundary of the chamber; and
a vacuum source in pneumatic communication with the vacuum vent such that unbound powder may be automatically removed from the chamber through the vacuum vent.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional object fabricator with an unbound powder removal system is disclosed. The object fabricator forms an object by binding regions of unbound powder in a chamber having the unbound powder removal system operably secured thereto. Unbound powder is removed from the chamber by the unbound powder removal system.
280 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An unbound powder removal system for a three-dimensional object fabricator that forms an object in a chamber of unbound powder by binding regions of the unbound powder, said unbound powder removal system including:
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a vacuum vent operably secured to a boundary of the chamber; and
a vacuum source in pneumatic communication with the vacuum vent such that unbound powder may be automatically removed from the chamber through the vacuum vent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A three-dimensional object fabricator having:
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a source chamber for receiving unbound powder therein;
a building chamber having a boundary and an upper edge;
a carriage movable along a horizontal plane over the source and building chambers;
an unbound powder mover operably secured to the carriage to move unbound powder from the source chamber to the building chamber thereby forming a layer of unbound powder in the building chamber;
a bonding fluid ejector in fluid communication with a source of bonding fluid, said bonding fluid ejector operably secured to and movable along a longitudinal length of the carriage such that the bonding fluid ejector is positionable on the horizontal plane adjacent to the building chamber, the bonding fluid bonding a region of the layer of unbound powder in the building chamber to form a region of bound powder. an unbound powder removal system operably secured to the boundary of the building chamber such that unbound powder may be removed from the chamber after the region of bound powder is formed in the building chamber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for producing an object using a three-dimensional object fabricator that fabricates objects by bonding regions of unbounded powder in a chamber of unbound powder with an unbound powder removal system operably secured to the chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
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operating the three-dimensional object fabricator to produce the object in the chamber of unbound powder;
covering the chamber of unbound powder with a lid;
activating the unbound powder removal system such that unbound powder in the chamber is removed from the chamber while the object remains within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A three-dimensional object fabricator having:
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a frame;
a chamber for depositing a layer of unbound powder therein;
means operably secured to the frame for delivering unbound powder to the chamber;
means for selectively binding a region of the layer of unbound powder thereby forming a region of bound powder; and
,means operably secured to the chamber for removing unbound powder from the chamber while the region of bound powder remains within the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification