General Electric Company

Daniel Joerger

Neal Dunham

Zachary David Fieldman

Thomas Sinnett

Travis Gene Sands

Stephen Michael Deak

Eliezer Manuel Alcantara Marte

Scott Alan Gold

Mike D Miller

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support structure in the process of building objects that may be removed by rotating the support structure to a second orientation before removal, as well as novel support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structures are fabricated in a first orientation and then rotated to the second orientation. The support structures are removed by passing through an outlet of the object.

Methods and keyway supports for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize conformal support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel conformal support structures to be used within these AM processes. The conformal support structures include a first portion that extends from a platform to a concave upward surface of the first portion that is below a downward facing convex surface of the object. The concave upward surface corresponds to the downward facing convex surface. The downward facing convex surface of the object is separated from the concave upward surface of the first portion by at least one portion of unfused powder.

Method and conformal supports for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize a pulsed laser to solidify a liquid photopolymer. The method includes scanning a first portion of the photopolymer with the laser at a first draw speed, wherein the first portion of the photopolymer corresponds to a first portion of the part that has a width less than a threshold width. The method also includes scanning a second portion of the photopolymer with the laser at a second draw speed that is greater than the first draw speed, wherein the second portion of the photopolymer corresponds to a second portion of the part that has a width greater than the threshold width.

Methods and apparatus for thin-walled geometries for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize powder removal ports in the process of building objects, as well as novel support structures including powder removal ports to be used within these AM processes. The objects include walls defining regions of unfused powder. The powder removal ports include at least one tube aligned with an opening in the walls to allow removal of the powder. The methods include removing unfused powder from the enclosed space via the at least one tube.

Method and supports with powder removal ports for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support surrounding structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel surrounding support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structure surrounds at least a portion of the object with a continuous thickness of powder disposed between the support structure and the object, the continuous thickness of powder having a maximum thickness that does not exceed 10 mm.

Methods and surrounding supports for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize connecting support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel connecting support structures to be used within these AM processes. The connecting support structures include two fused connections to the object and an axial direction between the fused connections, a perimeter of fused material about the axial direction, and unfused powder or air completely surrounding the perimeter of fused material.

Method and connecting supports for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize thermal dissipation support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel thermal dissipation support structures to be used within these AM processes. The thermal dissipation support structures include at least one sacrificial structure that is separated from the object by a portion of unfused powder. The sacrificial structure increases a thermal dissipation rate of at least a portion of the object such that such that thermal gradients in the object remain below a specified threshold that prevents deformation of the object.

Methods and thermal structures for additive manufacturing

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support leading edge structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel leading edge support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structure is positioned adjacent the object between the object and a first side of the powder bed. The support structure has a shape that tapers outward in the direction from the first side to the object.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Daniel Joerger