公开(公告)号：US06405095B1

公开(公告)日：2002-06-11

申请号：US09318779

申请日：1999-05-25

Applicant: Borzeng Jang ,  Jun Duan ,  Kerbin Chen ,  Xin Lu ,  Erjian Ma

Inventor： Borzeng Jang ,  Jun Duan ,  Kerbin Chen ,  Xin Lu ,  Erjian Ma

IPC: G06F1900

CPC classification number: B22F1/0003 ,  B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1056 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/40 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  G05B19/4099 ,  G05B2219/49018 ,  Y02P10/295 ,  Y02P90/265

Abstract: A solid freeform fabrication process and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object. The process comprises the steps of (1) operating a material deposition sub-system for dispensing droplets of solidifiable liquid compositions on demand onto selected spots of an object work surface, for using a focused heat source to maintain a heat-affected zone on the work surface, and for creating a weld pool of molten materials on this work surface by injecting selected powder particles into this heat-affected zone and (2) during the material deposition process, moving the deposition sub-system and the work surface relative to each other in an X-Y plane defined by first and second directions and in a Z direction orthogonal to the X-Y plane so that the materials are deposited to form a first layer of the object. The material in the weld pool solidifies after the heat-affected zone moves away to build portions of a layer. These steps are repeated to deposit multiple layers for forming a three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the peripheral areas and the staircase step zones between layers are built with fine droplets for improved part accuracy while the bulk of the object is built with solidification of weld pool materials. These steps are preferably executed under the control of a computer system. Preferably, the system is also operated to generate a support structure for any un-supported feature of the object.

Abstract translation: 用于制造三维物体的固体自由形成工艺和装置。 该方法包括以下步骤：（1）操作材料沉积子系统，用于根据需要在可选择的物体工作表面的选定点上分配可凝固液体组合物的液滴，以使用聚焦热源来保持工作中的受热影响区域 并且通过将选定的粉末颗粒注入该热影响区而在该工作表面上形成熔融材料的熔池，以及（2）在材料沉积过程中，相对于彼此移动沉积子系统和工作表面 在由第一和第二方向限定的XY平面中以及与XY平面正交的Z方向上，使得材料被沉积以形成物体的第一层。 焊接池中的材料在热影响区域移开之后固化，以构成一层的部分。 重复这些步骤以沉积多个层以形成三维形状。 优选地，层之间的周边区域和阶梯阶段区域由细小液滴构成，以提高部件精度，同时通过熔池材料的固化来建造物体的大部分。 这些步骤优选在计算机系统的控制下执行。 优选地，该系统还被操作以产生用于对象的任何未支撑的特征的支撑结构。