Method of thermally transferring layers in a selective deposition-based additive manufacturing system using conductive heat

• Main Author: Batchelder, J. Samuel
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.12.2023
• 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

Disclosed are selective deposition-based additive manufacturing systems (10) and methods for printing a 3D part (26). Layers of a powder material (22) are developed using one or more electrostatographic engines (12a-d). The layers (22) are transferred for deposition on a part build surface (88). For each of the layers (22), the part build surface (88) is pre-heated by impinging a first heat transfer liquid (74) toward the part build surface (88), for example using a solder fountain. The developed layer (22) is pressed into contact with the heated part build surface (88) to heat the developed layer (22) to a flowable state and form a new part build surface (88) which is fully consolidated. The new part build surface (88) is then rapidly cooled to remove the heat energy added during heating step before repeating the steps for the next developed layer (22).