SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH METAL-BASED ALLOYS
First Claim
1. A digital manufacturing system for building a three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer manner, the system comprising:
- an enclosed, insulated build chamber configured to be purged of oxygen and to maintain one or more temperatures of at least about 350°
C. in at least a region of deposition;
a build platform disposed within the build chamber; and
a deposition head comprising;
an extrusion line configured to receive a feedstock of a metal-based alloy and to heat the metal-based alloy to a temperature between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature of the alloy; and
an extrusion tip disposed within the build chamber, the deposition head being configured to selectively deposit a flow of the heated metal-based alloy from the extrusion tip onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A digital manufacturing system for building a three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer manner, the system comprising:
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an enclosed, insulated build chamber configured to be purged of oxygen and to maintain one or more temperatures of at least about 350°
C. in at least a region of deposition;a build platform disposed within the build chamber; and a deposition head comprising; an extrusion line configured to receive a feedstock of a metal-based alloy and to heat the metal-based alloy to a temperature between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature of the alloy; and an extrusion tip disposed within the build chamber, the deposition head being configured to selectively deposit a flow of the heated metal-based alloy from the extrusion tip onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A digital manufacturing system for building a three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer manner, the system comprising:
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an enclosed, insulated build chamber configured to be purged of oxygen and to be maintained at one or more temperatures of at least about 350°
C. in at least a region of deposition;a build platform disposed within the build chamber; at least one extrusion line disposed outside of the build chamber and configured to receive a feedstock of a metal-based alloy and to heat the metal-based alloy to a temperature between a solidus temperature and a liquidus temperature of the alloy; a deposition head comprising; at least one extrusion tip disposed in the build chamber; and a freeze valve assembly configured to control the flow of heated metal-based alloy from one of the at least one extrusion tip; and at least one coolant solenoid disposed outside of the build chamber and configured to selectively relay a coolant to the freeze valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification