Build matertal particle fusing in a chamber containing vapor

• Main Authors: Fitzhugh, Andrew E, Ge, Ning, Zhao, Lihua, Simske, Steven J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.09.2023
• 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; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

According to an example, an apparatus may include an agent delivery device to selectively deliver an agent onto a layer of build material particles. The apparatus may also include an energy source to apply energy onto the layer of build material particles to selectively fuse the build material particles in the layer based upon the locations at which the agent was delivered and a chamber formed of a plurality of walls, in which the agent delivery device and the energy source are housed inside the chamber. The apparatus may further include a vapor source to supply vapor into the chamber to wet the build material particles inside the chamber.