Systems and methods of solid freeform fabrication with translating powder bins
First Claim
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1. A solid freeform fabrication (SFF) system comprising:
- a powder supply bin;
a build bin adjacent the powder supply bin;
a printhead disposed above the build bin that deposits a binder onto the powder in the build bin in a preselected pattern;
a roller disposed adjacent the printhead, the roller configured to distribute and compress the powder at a top surface of the removable powder supply bin and the build bin to a desired thickness; and
wherein the powder supply bin and the build bin are attached to a stage that translates the powder supply bin and the build bin in a y-axis relative to the printhead.
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Abstract
Solid freeform fabrication systems, powder supply bins for solid freeform fabrication systems, and methods of solid freeform fabrication are disclosed. One exemplary solid freeform fabrication system includes a powder supply bin, a build bin, a roller, and a print head disposed above the build bin that deposits a binder onto the powder in the build bin in a preselected pattern, the supply bin and/or the build bin translating in a x- and/or y-direction relative to the print head.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A solid freeform fabrication (SFF) system comprising:
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a powder supply bin;
a build bin adjacent the powder supply bin;
a printhead disposed above the build bin that deposits a binder onto the powder in the build bin in a preselected pattern;
a roller disposed adjacent the printhead, the roller configured to distribute and compress the powder at a top surface of the removable powder supply bin and the build bin to a desired thickness; and
wherein the powder supply bin and the build bin are attached to a stage that translates the powder supply bin and the build bin in a y-axis relative to the printhead. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A solid freeform fabrication (SFF) system comprising:
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a stationary powder supply bin;
a build bin adjacent the powder supply bin, wherein the build bin comprises a moveable surface in the z-direction, on which an object is fabricated;
a roller disposed above the powder supply bin and the build bin, the roller being incorporated into a movable stage and configured to distribute and compress the powder at a top surface of the removable powder supply bin and the build bin to a desired thickness; and
a print head disposed above the build bin that deposits a binder onto the powder in the build bin in a preselected pattern;
wherein the build bin is configured to translate in a y-axis relative to the print head. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 16. The SFF system of claim 10, wherein the movable stage incorporating the roller translates independently of the build bin.
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16-1. A method of solid freeform fabrication, comprising the steps of:
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dispensing powder from a powder supply bin onto a layer on a build platform; and
building an object by layers in the build bin, wherein each layer is formed by ejecting a binder with an inkjet print head onto the layer of powder in the build bin, wherein the build platform translates in a downward z-direction as the object is built, and wherein the build platform translates in a y-direction relative to the print head, and wherein the print head translates in an x-direction relative to the build platform.
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17-2. The method of claim 16, wherein the powder supply bin translates in a y-direction relative to the print head.
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19. A solid freeform fabrication system comprising:
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means for dispensing powder from a powder supply bin onto a layer on a build platform;
means for building an object by layers in the build bin, wherein each layer is formed by ejecting a binder with an inkjet print head onto the layer of powder in the build bin;
means for translating the build platform in a downward z-direction as the object is built;
means for translating the build platform a y-direction relative to the print head; and
means for translating the print head in an x-direction relative to the build platform. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification