Method for fabrication of three-dimensional articles by thermal spray deposition using masks as support structures
First Claim
1. A method for the fabrication of a three dimensional article comprising the steps ofa) creating a set of masks, each mask comprised of a support layer and a removable liner thereon, having a cut-away portion through the support layer and liner, each mask corresponding to at least a portion of a cross section through the article such that there is at least one mask for every parallel cross section through the article normal to a centerline through the article;
- b) placing on a work surface at least one mask;
c) applying deposition material over the mask to form a layer of deposition material having a first layer portion within the cut-away area and adjacent the support layer of the mask and a second layer portion on the liner;
d) removing the liner and deposition material thereon after applying the deposition material thereby leaving the support layer and the first layer portion;
e) placing another mask selected from the set of masks on the support layer;
f) applying deposition material over the another mask;
g) removing the liner portion of the another mask and any deposition material thereon;
h) repeating steps e) through g) until the article has been formed and;
i) removing the support layers from the article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for forming a three-dimensional article by thermal spraying utilizes a plurality of masks having a support layer with a removable liner thereon and a cut-away portion. The masks correspond to cross-sections normal to a centerline through the object. A set of masks defines all cross-sections through the object. A first mask is placed above a work surface and sprayed with a deposition material forming a first layer portion of the deposition material within the cut-out and second layer portion on the liner. The liner and second layer portion of deposition material thereon are removed. A second mask is placed over the remaining support portion of the first mask and sprayed with deposition material therein. Then the liner portion of the second mask and deposition material therein are removed. This process is repeated until the three dimensional article is formed. Then the mask support portions surrounding the article are removed from the article.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for the fabrication of a three dimensional article comprising the steps of
a) creating a set of masks, each mask comprised of a support layer and a removable liner thereon, having a cut-away portion through the support layer and liner, each mask corresponding to at least a portion of a cross section through the article such that there is at least one mask for every parallel cross section through the article normal to a centerline through the article; -
b) placing on a work surface at least one mask; c) applying deposition material over the mask to form a layer of deposition material having a first layer portion within the cut-away area and adjacent the support layer of the mask and a second layer portion on the liner; d) removing the liner and deposition material thereon after applying the deposition material thereby leaving the support layer and the first layer portion; e) placing another mask selected from the set of masks on the support layer; f) applying deposition material over the another mask; g) removing the liner portion of the another mask and any deposition material thereon; h) repeating steps e) through g) until the article has been formed and; i) removing the support layers from the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification