Additive manufacture of electrically conductive materials

• Main Authors: Wayde R Schmidt, Tahany Ibrahim El-wardany, Vijay Jagdale
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.06.2017
• 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

Additive layer manufacturing method comprising: depositing layer of absorptive material 114 onto a workpiece; depositing a layer of additive manufacturing stock powder 108 into the workpiece; and fusing the stock powder to the workpiece using a focused energy source 104 at a wavelength where the absorptive material has a higher absorptivity than the stock powder. Preferably, successive layers of absorptive and stock material form component 106. Preferably, component comprises conductive material, such as 99.9% pure copper, aluminium or noble metals. Preferably, energy source is 1064nm laser. Preferably, stock layer is 10-200µm and absorptive layer less than 9µm. Preferably, workpiece is oxidised to remove absorptive layer, and reduced to remove oxide layer from oxidisation. Preferably, absorptive material is graphite, carbon black or graphene. Preferably, absorptive layer is added before or after stock layer so absorptive/stock layer is coated by stock/absorptive material. Preferably, layer thickness is controlled by recoater blade or sprayer.