Metal droplet ejection three-dimensional (3D) object printer and operating method for forming metal support structure

• Main Authors: LIU CHIH-HAO, HERRMANN DOUGLAS K, LEFEVRE JASON M, PRAHARAJ SEEMIT, MCCONVILLE PAUL J, RAMESH PARTHASARATHY S
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 23.06.2023
• Subjects: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OFTHREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVEAGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING,STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING; CASTING; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; TRANSPORTING; WORKING METALLIC POWDER

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a magnetic field generator to selectively form a magnetic field around a nozzle from which molten metal droplets are jetted. The speed of the droplet ejected in the presence of the magnetic field is reduced from the initial speed at which it is ejected. The reduced velocity increases the time of flight of the droplet prior to impacting its landing area. The increased travel time enables the molten metal droplets to be sufficiently oxidized so that they are less tightly bonded than droplets not ejected through the magnetic field. Accordingly, the apparatus may form a metal support structure that is less closely adhered to part portions of the object so they may be more easily removed after printing the object. 三维(3D)金属物体制造装置配备有磁场发生器，以选择性地围绕喷嘴形成磁场，从该喷嘴喷射熔融金属液滴。在磁场存在下喷射的液滴的速度从其喷射时的初始速度降低。减小的速度增加了液滴在撞击其着陆区域之前的飞行时间。增加的行进时间使熔融金属液滴能够充分氧化，以使它们较不穿过磁场喷射的液滴不太紧密地粘结。因此，装置可以形成金属支撑结构，该金属支撑结构较不紧密地粘附到物体的零件部分，因此它们在打印物体之后可以更容易地移除。