Methods and systems for the manufacture of layered three-dimensional forms
First Claim
1. ) A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional form, comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of particulates;
b) contacting at least a portion of a surface of the particulates with an activation agent;
c) contacting a pre-selected portion of the particulates having the activation agent with a binder material that is activatable by the activation agent;
d) at least partially hardening the binder for forming a layer of the three-dimensional form; and
e) repeating the steps (a)-(d) to form the remainder of the three-dimensional form.
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Accused Products
Abstract
New methods and systems for manufacturing a three-dimensional form, comprising steps of providing a plurality of particulates; contacting the particulates with an activation agent; contacting particulates having the activation agent with a binder material that is activatable by the activation agent; at least partially hardening the binder for forming a layer of the three-dimensional form; and repeating these steps to form the remainder of the three-dimensional form. Following sequential application of all required layers and binder material to make the form, the unbound particles are appropriately removed (and optionally re-used), to result in the desired three-dimensional form. The invention also contemplates a novel method for preparing a form, where unbound particulates free of binder material are re-claimed.
351 Citations
20 Claims
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1. ) A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional form, comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of particulates;
b) contacting at least a portion of a surface of the particulates with an activation agent;
c) contacting a pre-selected portion of the particulates having the activation agent with a binder material that is activatable by the activation agent;
d) at least partially hardening the binder for forming a layer of the three-dimensional form; and
e) repeating the steps (a)-(d) to form the remainder of the three-dimensional form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. ) A three dimensional form, comprising:
- a plurality of sequentially formed layers that include particles bound together by a binder material system that is at least two components, including an activation agent and a binder material, wherein the binder material is not contacted with the particles prior to the activation agent.
- View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. ) A system for preparing a three-dimensional form, comprising:
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a) a binder fluid dispenser containing a volume of binder fluid;
b) a work surface having a plurality of particles thereon that are contacted with an activation agent for the binder;
c) a mechanism for spreading particulated material prior to contact with the binder fluid;
d) a processor for commanding the binder fluid dispenser to dispense the binder fluid according to data from a computer-derived model, wherein the binder fluid dispenser and the work surface are adapted for translation relative to each other in three dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification