Three-dimensional printing

• Main Author: Erickson, Kristopher J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.05.2022
• 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

At a print temperature, a layer (having a predetermined height) of metal build material particles is formed. Also at the print temperature, a fluid containing metal nanoparticles is selectively applied to at least a portion of the layer, and at a fluid loading that wets the portion through the predetermined height without saturating the portion. The metal nanoparticles are exposed to a sintering temperature that is higher than the print temperature and at least 500° below a melting point of the metal build material particles using a predetermined number of heating events taking place at a predetermined speed or for a predetermined time, and separated by a predetermined delay time, to bind the metal build material particles together to form a bound layer. A build material surface is cooled to or below the print temperature. The forming, selectively applying, exposing, and cooling are repeated to form a part precursor.