Systems and methods for using multi-part curable materials

• US 8,574,485 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Kramer, Laura, Lambright, Terry M., Kasperchik, Vladek
• Primary Examiner(s): ABRAHAM, AMJAD A
• Application Number:
  US11/345,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,834 Days
• Field of Search: 264/401
• US Class Current: 264/401
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing

Abstract

Solid freeform fabrication (SFF) systems for producing a three-dimensional object and methods of producing three-dimensional objects are disclosed. The SFF system includes a dispensing system and a curing system. The dispensing system is adapted to dispense a radiation initiator and a build material. The radiation initiator and the build material are stored separately in the dispensing system and are dispensed separately. The curing system cures the radiation initiator and the build material after each has been dispensed.

Claims

1. A method of producing a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

providing a radiation initiator in a first compartment devoid of a build material;

providing a build material in a second compartment devoid of a radiation initiator, the build material being selected from an acrylic compound, a compound having one or more epoxy substituents, a compound having one or more vinyl ether substituents, a vinylcaprolactam, a vinylpyrrolidone, a norbornene, a urethane, and a combination thereof;

dispensing the radiation initiator from the first compartment and separately dispensing the build material from the second compartment in a manner in which the radiation initiator and the build material commingle for the first time outside of their respective compartments to form a multi-part radiation curable material; and

curing the multi-part radiation curable material to produce the three-dimensional object;

wherein dispensing the radiation initiator and the build material includes;

depositing the build material on a surface in a spaced manner; and

depositing the radiation initiator on the surface within the spaces between the build material, wherein the build material and the radiation initiator form a layer of commingled build material and radiation initiator thereby forming the multi-part radiation curable material.