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;
a heatable vapor chamber located within 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, the heatable vapor chamber comprising;
a first cooling component configured to define a first vapor ceiling for the heatable vapor chamber; and
a vapor chamber top opening located above the first vapor ceiling;
a drying chamber located within the interior of the housing and that is separate from the vapor chamber, the drying chamber being located laterally adjacent to the vapor chamber, wherein the drying chamber comprises a drying chamber top opening; and
an interior chamber located within the housing above the vapor chamber and the drying chamber, the interior chamber being accessible to the vapor chamber top opening and to the drying chamber top opening, wherein the interior chamber comprises;
a second cooling component configured to define a second vapor ceiling for the heatable vapor chamber and the drying chamber; and
a interior chamber top opening located above the second vapor ceiling.
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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.
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Citations
20 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; a heatable vapor chamber located within 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, the heatable vapor chamber comprising; a first cooling component configured to define a first vapor ceiling for the heatable vapor chamber; and a vapor chamber top opening located above the first vapor ceiling; a drying chamber located within the interior of the housing and that is separate from the vapor chamber, the drying chamber being located laterally adjacent to the vapor chamber, wherein the drying chamber comprises a drying chamber top opening; and an interior chamber located within the housing above the vapor chamber and the drying chamber, the interior chamber being accessible to the vapor chamber top opening and to the drying chamber top opening, wherein the interior chamber comprises; a second cooling component configured to define a second vapor ceiling for the heatable vapor chamber and the drying chamber; and a interior chamber top opening located above the second vapor ceiling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
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a housing; a vapor chamber located within the housing, the vapor chamber comprising; at least one heater configured to vaporize a solvent to provide a vapor that is configured to soften and reflow material of the object while the object is exposed to the vapor; a first cooling component configured to define a first vapor ceiling for the vapor chamber; and a vapor chamber top opening located above the first vapor ceiling; a drying chamber located within the housing and that is separate from the vapor chamber, the drying chamber being located laterally adjacent to the vapor chamber, wherein the drying chamber comprises a drying chamber top opening; and an interior chamber located within the housing above the vapor chamber and the drying chamber, the interior chamber being accessible to the vapor chamber top opening and to the drying chamber top opening, wherein the interior chamber comprises; a second cooling component configured to define a second vapor ceiling for the vapor chamber and for the drying chamber; and a interior chamber top opening located above the second vapor ceiling. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification