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. 17, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 21, 2003
Dawn White, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
David Carmein, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Shyam Keshavmurthy, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Dawn White, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
David Carmein, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Shyam Keshavmurthy, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Solidica, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
Materials and methods inhibit the localized build-up of material with respect to certain additive manufacturing processes, including those based on ultrasonic consolidation. Where an object is fabricated by consolidating material increments from a feedstock in accordance with a description of the object, the invention prevents the consolidation in specified regions to provide for an intrinsic support or to otherwise build a part or component in accordance with the description. The object being fabricated, the feedstock, or both, may be treated so as to inhibit the consolidation of material increments in the localized area. That is, such treatment may affect the surface chemistry of the feedstock to prevent local bonding, or the treatment may be applied to a previously built surface of the object. The treatment may include the introduction of an oxidizer, such as a metal nitrate, chlorate, chromate, peroxide, or manganate; a base or alkali; or a coating of a lubricious material such as tin, Teflon, or petroleum distillates to prevent the breakup of an oxide layer.