The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 02, 2026
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2022
Postprocess Technologies, Inc., Buffalo, NY (US);
Nicholas Cudzilo, Lancaster, NY (US);
Jon Strible, Amherst, NY (US);
Daniel J. Hutchinson, Orchard Park, NY (US);
Marc Farfaglia, Buffalo, NY (US);
PostProcess Technologies, Inc., Buffalo, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing support material from and/or smoothing surfaces of an additively manufactured part (the 'AM part') is disclosed. The apparatus may include a chamber, a support surface within the chamber, and one or more nozzles within the chamber. The nozzles may be the same size or different sizes. The support surface may be configured to support the AM part. The support surface may have one or more openings sized and configured to allow the fluid to pass through the opening(s). The nozzles may be configured to spray a fluid at the AM part, and the spray may be an atomized or semi-atomized spray of the fluid. For removing support material from parts with internal spaces, such as cavities or passages, the apparatus can include a nozzle at the end of an adjustable flexible hose member that can be adjusted to spray into an internal space of the part. Alternatively, for removing unwanted support material from multiple parts with internal spaces, the apparatus may include a submersion tank.