Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Chikara Inamura

Neri Oxman

Michael C Stern

Peter Houk

Tal Achituv

Markus Kayser

Shreya H Dave

John Klein

Giorgia Franchin

Daniel Lizardo

A nozzle deposits a filament of viscous, molten glass onto a print bed, while the print bed rotates about a vertical axis and translates in x, y, and z directions. The deposition is computer controlled, such that the resulting deposited filament forms a desired glass object that is solid after it anneals. One or more motors rotate the print bed such that the direction of deposition of the molten glass is constant relative to the nozzle, even though the print bed is translating in different directions relative to the nozzle. Keeping the direction of deposition constant relative to the nozzle tends to prevent the extruded filament of molten glass from experiencing large, changing, tensile and shear forces that would otherwise occur and that would otherwise damage the filament.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufacturing with molten glass

In illustrative implementations of this invention, a crucible kiln heats glass such that the glass becomes or remains molten. A nozzle extrudes the molten glass while one or more actuators actuate movements of the nozzle, a build platform or both. A computer controls these movements such that the extruded molten glass is selectively deposited to form a 3D glass object. The selective deposition of molten glass occurs inside an annealing kiln. The annealing kiln anneals the glass after it is extruded. In some cases, the actuators actuate the crucible kiln and nozzle to move in horizontal x, y directions and actuate the build platform to move in a z-direction. In some cases, fluid flows through a cavity or tubes adjacent to the nozzle tip, in order to cool the nozzle tip and thereby reduce the amount of glass that sticks to the nozzle tip.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufacturing of glass

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, MA, United States of America

Chikara Inamura