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:
Jul. 07, 2026
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2023
Lawrence Livermore National Security, Llc, Livermore, CA (US);
Michael John Troksa, Veradale, WA (US);
Ziheng Wu, Seattle, WA (US);
Eric S. Elton, Livermore, CA (US);
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a system for removing an upper layer of powder from a powder bed, wherein the powder bed includes metal powder particles. The system makes use of an electrode subsystem having an electrode and a dielectric layer secured to the electrode. A metallic build plate is used for supporting the powder layer thereon. The electrode subsystem is supported above an upper surface of the powder bed such that the dielectric layer is separated from the upper surface by a gap of a predetermined distance. A power source is coupled to the electrode subsystem and the build plate for supplying a voltage across the electrode subsystem and the build plate. The voltage generates an electric field in the gap which is sufficient to attract and lift a predetermined thickness portion of the powder layer adjacent the upper surface, onto the dielectric layer, to leave a new upper surface on the powder bed.