Additive Technologies LLC

David A Mantell

Christopher T Chungbin

Dinesh Krishna Kumar Jayabal

Chu-Heng Liu

Paul J McConville

Peter M Gulvin

Palghat Srinivas Ramesh

Alexander J Fioravanti

Denis Cormier

Daniel R Cormier

Viktor Sukhotskiy

Manoj Meda

Kareem Tawil

Scott James Vader

A method of operating a three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus selects operational parameters for operation of the printer to form conductive metal traces on substrates with dimensions within appropriate tolerances and with sufficient conductive material to carry electrical currents without burning up or becoming too hot. The method identifies the material of the substrate and the bulk metal being melted for ejection and uses this identification data to select the operational parameters. Thus, the method can form conductive traces and circuits on a wide range of substrate materials including polymeric substrates, semiconductor materials, oxide layers on semiconductor materials, glass, and other crystalline materials.

Method for operating a metal drop ejecting three-dimensional (3D) object printer to form electrical circuits on substrates

The nozzles of a MHD liquid metal ejector/printhead can be clogged by contaminants in the liquid metal. Typically, these contaminants are in the form of small particles of aggregates of particles, such as metal oxides, that are insoluble in the liquid metal. Possible cleaning methods include mechanically removing the clogging material, such as by using a physical device to dislodge the clogging material and remove it; chemically removing the clogging material, such as by using selected chemicals/flux to chemically react with the clogging material; using ultrasound to break/remove the clogging material; and providing reversed and/or oscillating flow of material through the nozzle.

Nozzle cleaning in jetting of metal alloys

A method includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a build material from a nozzle of a 3D printer. The build material cools and solidifies after being ejected to form a 3D object. The method also includes controlling an oxidation of the drops, the 3D object or both to create different oxidation levels in first and second portions of the 3D object.

Atmosphere and part formation in a liquid metal drop-on-demand printer

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Webster, NY, United States of America

David A Mantell