Fabric8labs, Inc.

Michael Matthews

Charles Pateros

David Forrest Pain

Jeffrey William Herman

Andrew Edmonds

Kareem Shaik

Ian Winfield

Kareemullah Shaik

Shiv Shailendar

Sean Stone

Described herein are methods and systems for additive manufacturing of parts comprising electrolytic deposits and electrophoretic deposits. Such methods and methods provide various new ways for integrating different materials into composite parts. Specifically, an additive manufacturing system comprises an electrode array with individually-addressable electrodes. Each individually-addressable electrode is coupled to a separate deposition control circuit, which selectively connects this electrode to a power supply. When forming a composite part, the electrode array can control the location of each electrolytic deposit (by controlling the current flow through each individually-addressable electrode) and each electrophoretic deposit (by controlling the electric field distribution). An electrolyte solution or an electrophoretic suspension is provided between the electrode array and deposition electrode to form corresponding deposits. In addition to the electrode-array provided control, alternating the electrolytic and electrophoretic deposition operations can be used to locate the corresponding deposits within a composite part.

Additive manufacturing of parts comprising electrophoretic and electrolytic deposits

An electrochemical additive manufacturing method includes positioning a cathode portion of a build plate and a deposition anode array into an electrolyte solution. The method additionally includes transmitting electrical energy from the power source through one or more deposition anodes, through the electrolyte solution, and to the cathode portion such that material is deposited onto the cathode portion. The build plate includes a thermal feature, the deposited material is thermally coupled with the thermal feature, and the deposited material forms a heat wicking feature.

Methods for electrochemical additive manufacturing of parts

An electrochemical additive manufacturing method includes positioning a build plate into an electrolyte solution. The conductive layer comprises at least one conductive-layer segment forming a pattern corresponding with a component. The method further comprises connecting the at least one conductive-layer segment and one or more deposition anodes to a power source. The one or more deposition anodes correspond with at least a portion of the pattern formed by the at least one conductive-layer segment. The method additionally comprises transmitting electrical energy from the power source through the one or more deposition anodes of the plurality of deposition anodes corresponding with the at least the portion of the pattern formed by the at least one conductive-layer segment, through the electrolyte solution, and to the at least one conductive-layer segment, such that material is deposited onto the at least one conductive-layer segment and forms at least a portion of the component.

Systems and methods for electrochemical additive manufacturing of parts using multi-purpose build plate

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Encinitas, CA, United States of America

Michael Matthews