Vapor smoothing surface finishing system
First Claim
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1. A system for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
- a housing having an interior;
a heatable vapor chamber located within the interior of the housing, and configured to contain a solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor that is configured to soften and reflow material of the object while the object is exposed to the vapor;
a first cooling component located within the interior of the housing and configured to define a vapor ceiling for the vapor chamber;
a drying chamber located within the interior of the housing and that is separate from the vapor chamber; and
a second cooling component located within the interior of the housing and configured to define a vapor ceiling for at least a portion of the interior of the housing outside of the vapor chamber.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object. A cabinet housing has a sealable interior. A heated vapor chamber in the interior of the cabinet housing contains solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor for smoothing the object when the object is placed in the vapor chamber. A drying chamber is also provided in the interior of the cabinet housing that is separate from the vapor chamber for drying the object when the object is moved from the vapor chamber to the drying chamber.
60 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
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a housing having an interior; a heatable vapor chamber located within the interior of the housing, and configured to contain a solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor that is configured to soften and reflow material of the object while the object is exposed to the vapor; a first cooling component located within the interior of the housing and configured to define a vapor ceiling for the vapor chamber; a drying chamber located within the interior of the housing and that is separate from the vapor chamber; and a second cooling component located within the interior of the housing and configured to define a vapor ceiling for at least a portion of the interior of the housing outside of the vapor chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 28, 30, 31)
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5. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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15-27. -27. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
Specification