Three-dimensional printer

• US 20060141145A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc. (3D Systems Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Z CORPORATION (A Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kinsley, Joshua P., Zengerle, Walter H. III, Davidson, Thomas, Phillips, Robert A., Berlin, Andrew, Russell, David B., Sweet-Block, Benjamin Daniel, Kisai, Darul, Roche, Kevin, Hernandes, Andres T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/203
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/12 Spreading-out the material on a substrate , e.g. on the surface of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/35 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/357 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0021 Multi-coloured
• 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 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16523 Waste ink collection from caps or spittoons, e.g. by suction
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16535 using wiping constructions B41J2/16552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16541 Means to remove deposits from wipers or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16552 using cleaning fluids

Abstract

A three-dimensional printer uses inkjet-type printheads to rapidly prototype, or print, a three-dimensional model. A powder feeder includes a conveyor system and a metering system to deliver powder to a build area in measured quantities. The powder feeder also includes a vacuum system for loading powder into a feed reservoir or chamber. The vacuum system can also be used to cleanup excess powder. Other powder control features include powder gutters and magnetic powder plows. During printing, a cleaning system operates to remove powder from the printheads. In the event of a printhead or jet failure, the failure can be detected and corrective measures taken automatically. After printing, the model can be depowdered and infiltrated in an enclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising:

a feed reservoir for storing a supply of build material usable to fabricate the object;

a vacuum system having a vacuum inlet plumbed to the feed reservoir;

a build chamber for receiving incremental layers of the build material from the feed reservoir; and

an overflow cavity for receiving an excess quantity of build material transferred from the feed reservoir but not received by the build chamber.

2-83. -83. (canceled)