MATERIAL SUPPLY FOR MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC METAL MANUFACTURING
First Claim
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1. A manufacturing system, the system comprising:
- a nozzle includinga housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region,one or more magnets disposed relative to the housing with a magnetic field of the magnet directed through the housing, andelectrodes defining at least a portion of a firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region, the electrodes arranged relative to the magnet such that electric current flowing between the electrodes intersects the magnetic field in the firing chamber to eject liquid metal from the discharge region; and
a robotic system coupled to the nozzle and movable to position the discharge region along a controlled pattern; and
a feeder system engageable with a metal wire, the feeder system actuatable to direct the metal wire into the fluid chamber, via the inlet region, as liquid metal is ejected from the discharge region along the controlled pattern to form an object.
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal from a nozzle along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. A feeder system can provide a continuous or substantially continuous supply of a solid metal to the nozzle to facilitate a correspondingly continuous or substantially continuous process for ejecting liquid metal as part of a commercially viable manufacturing process.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A manufacturing system, the system comprising:
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a nozzle including a housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region, one or more magnets disposed relative to the housing with a magnetic field of the magnet directed through the housing, and electrodes defining at least a portion of a firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region, the electrodes arranged relative to the magnet such that electric current flowing between the electrodes intersects the magnetic field in the firing chamber to eject liquid metal from the discharge region; and a robotic system coupled to the nozzle and movable to position the discharge region along a controlled pattern; and a feeder system engageable with a metal wire, the feeder system actuatable to direct the metal wire into the fluid chamber, via the inlet region, as liquid metal is ejected from the discharge region along the controlled pattern to form an object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of manufacturing, the method comprising:
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directing a metal wire toward a fluid chamber at least partially defined by a housing, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region; melting a portion of the metal wire to a liquid metal, wherein an interface between the metal wire and the liquid metal is adjacent to the inlet region; delivering the liquid metal from the fluid chamber to a firing chamber at least partially defined by electrodes, the firing chamber within the fluid chamber between the inlet region and the discharge region; and applying a magnetohydrodynamic force to the liquid metal in the firing chamber, wherein the metal wire is directed into the fluid chamber at a rate sufficient to maintain continuous contact between the metal wire and the liquid metal at the interface as the liquid metal is ejected from the discharge region by the magnetohydrodynamic force. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification