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Method and support structures for creation of objects by layer deposition

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-09-17
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Granted: 1994-02-15
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Expires: 2012-09-17
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Abstract

Abstract An improved support structure is provided in a method for making objects by the incremental build-up of layers of a deposition material and adjacent support material. The improved support structure includes a first material and a second material placed as a coating upon the first material. The deposition material, first material and second material each preferably have a selected melting point such that the first material melting point is lower than the deposition material melting point and such that the second material melting point is greater than the first material melting point.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fritz Prinz
  • 👤 Lee Weiss

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/115; B22F10/00; B22F10/20; B22F10/25; B22F10/40; B22F10/43; B22F10/60; B22F10/64; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/10; B29C64/141; B29C64/40; B33; B33Y; B33Y10/00; B22F10/50; B33Y80/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49011; G05B2219/49016; G05B2219/49039; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/25; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49885; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49982; Y10T29/49986; Y10T29/49988; Y10T29/49989; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31533

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 156 words
A support structure for use in the manufacture of three-dimensional objects formed from a deposition material by incremental build-up of layers of deposition material layers and adjacent support structure layers, the support structure comprised of a plurality of layers, each support structure layer having at least one article face shaped such that a combination of all article faces defines an object to be manufactured, at least one of the support structure layers comprising: (a) a first material; and (b) a coating of a second material placed upon the first material in a manner so that at least a portion of the coating is adjacent to an article face wherein the deposition, material first material and the second material are selected to permit the manufacture of the three-dimensional objects by incremental build-up of layers of deposition material and the support structure and at least a portion of the support structure is removable from a manufactured three-dimensional object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 156 words
A support structure for use in the manufacture of three-dimensional objects formed from a deposition material by incremental build-up of layers of deposition material layers and adjacent support structure layers, the support structure comprised of a plurality of layers, each support structure layer having at least one article face shaped such that a combination of all article faces defines an object to be manufactured, at least one of the support structure layers comprising: (a) a first material; and (b) a coating of a second material placed upon the first material in a manner so that at least a portion of the coating is adjacent to an article face wherein the deposition, material first material and the second material are selected to permit the manufacture of the three-dimensional objects by incremental build-up of layers of deposition material and the support structure and at least a portion of the support structure is removable from a manufactured three-dimensional object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein each of the deposition material layers, the first material and the second material respectively have a deposition material melting point, a first material melting point and a second material melting point, wherein the first material melting point is lower than the deposition material melting point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The support structure of claim 2 wherein the second material melting point is greater than the first material melting point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the support structure is removed after the object is completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein the first material is a ceramic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein the second material is the same material as the deposition material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein the deposition material layers are metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The support structure of claim 7 wherein the deposition material is applied by weld deposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The support structure of claim 7 wherein the first material is one of a tin-zinc alloy and a tin-bismuth alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first material and the second material is applied by thermal spray deposition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The support structure of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the second material forms a coating around at least a portion of the manufactured three-dimensional object.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB322257A Cited
US4289829A Cited
US4376814A Cited
US4665492A Cited
US4752352A Cited
US5110675A Cited
US4775092A Cited
US4842186A Cited
US4894505A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-02-14 1997-08-16 1998-02-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-02-14 2001-08-16 2002-02-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-02-14 2005-08-16 2006-02-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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