MATERIAL INTERFACES FOR MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC METAL MANUFACTURING
First Claim
1. A nozzle for jetting liquid metal, the nozzle comprising:
- a housing defining at least one portion of a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region;
one or more magnets supported on the housing with a magnetic field of the magnet directed through the housing; and
electrodes defining at least one portion of a firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region, wherein electric current is conductible from the electrodes into the firing chamber in a direction intersecting the magnetic field in the firing chamber, and a portion of the housing defining the discharge region of the fluid chamber is formed of a ceramic material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. Nozzles associated with these devices, systems, and methods include a combination of materials suitable for withstanding prolonged exposure to high temperatures associated with certain liquid metals while facilitating efficient delivery of current to produce magnetohydrodynamic forces controllable over a range of frequencies associated with commercially viable three-dimensional fabrication.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A nozzle for jetting liquid metal, the nozzle comprising:
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a housing defining at least one portion of a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region; one or more magnets supported on the housing with a magnetic field of the magnet directed through the housing; and electrodes defining at least one portion of a firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region, wherein electric current is conductible from the electrodes into the firing chamber in a direction intersecting the magnetic field in the firing chamber, and a portion of the housing defining the discharge region of the fluid chamber is formed of a ceramic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
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providing a liquid metal in a fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region, the fluid chamber at least partially defined by a housing, the fluid chamber; directing a magnetic field through the housing; moving the discharge region in a controlled pattern; and based on the position of the discharge region along the controlled pattern, conducting electric current through electrodes defining at least one portion of a firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region, wherein the electrodes defining the at least one portion of the firing chamber have an electrical resistivity substantially equal to the resistivity of the liquid metal moving through the firing chamber, and a portion of the housing defining the discharge region has an electrical resistivity substantially greater than the resistivity of the liquid metal moving through the discharge region, and electric current conducted through the electrodes is conducted into the liquid metal along a direction intersecting the magnetic field in the firing chamber to eject at least a portion of the liquid metal from the discharge region.
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Specification