1995
Patent US5598200A United States
Method and apparatus for producing a discrete droplet of high temperature liquid
Abstract
A method and an apparatus (10) eject on demand a discrete droplet (12) of liquid at a high temperature along a predetermined trajectory (18) by transferring a physical impulse from a low temperature environment to a high temperature environment. The ejector apparatus includes a vessel (26) having an interior (24) that contains a high-temperature liquid (14), such as liquid metal, Al, Zn or Sn. The interior includes an inlet end (30) that receives a thermally insulative impulse transmitting device (22) and a feed supply (34) of the droplet material, and a discharge region (56) having an orifice (16) through which the discrete droplets are ejected. An inert gas is feed through the inlet end and into the vessel to create an overpressure over the liquid so that as the overpressure is increased the droplet size is increased. A heater (70) heats the material contained within the interior. An impulse generator (20) is connected and imparts a physical impulse to the impulse transmitting device to produce an ejection pressure at the orifice to eject a discrete droplet of the high-temperature liquid. The impulse generator including a pulse generator electrically connected to a pulse amplifier that is electrically connected to an acoustic device, such as a loudspeaker.
Inventor David W. Gore
Application US08/378,713 events
1995-01-26
Application filed by Individual
1995-01-26
Priority to US08/378,713
1996-01-22
Priority to EP96904509A
1996-01-22
Priority to PCT/US1996/001132
1997-01-28
Application granted
1997-01-28
Publication of US5598200A
2015-01-26
Anticipated expiration
Status
Expired - Fee Related
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5598200A/en
2014
US20150273577A1
United States
Conductive Liquid Three Dimensional Printer
Abstract
A printer that produces objects from liquid conductive material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printhead has a chamber for containing liquid conductive material surrounded by an electromagnetic coil. A DC pulse is applied to the electromagnetic coil, resulting in a radially-inward force on the liquid conductive material. The force on the liquid conductive material in the chamber results in a drop being expelled from an orifice. In response to a series of pulses, a series of drops fall onto a platform in a programmed pattern, resulting in the formation of an object.
nventorScott VaderZachary VaderCurrent Assignee Alloy Acquisition Corp LLC
Worldwide applications
2014 US 2017 US
Application US14/228,681 events
2014-03-28
Application filed by Individual
2014-03-28
Priority to US14/228,681
2015-10-01
Publication of US20150273577A1
2017-03-13
Priority to US15/457,586
2017-04-11
Application granted
2017-04-11
Publication of US9616494B2
2022-02-04
Assigned to ALLOY ACQUISITION CORP, LLC
Status
Expired - Fee Related
2034-11-23
Adjusted expiration
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150273577A1/en
2019
Back in 2013 father and son Scott and Zach Vader developed an alternative additive manufacturing process, Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) printing. They applied for patent in 2014. Acquired by Xerox in February 2019, Vader Systems’ technology uses wire feedstock in lieu of powder. Gravity feeds the molten metal from a tiny crucible into a nozzle and jets individual molten metal droplets on demand, creating dense metallic parts.
Low-Cost Material
The wire feedstock used in MHD can be as little as one fifth the cost of similar metal in powder form, making the process more cost effective and accessible for a variety of applications and industries. MHD also allows for greater control and geometric freedom in the production of parts by customising drop size, placement and spacing.
Using its drop by drop method, MHD can produce engineered lattice structures without the need for support materials – by overlapping the metal droplets to create an in-built diagonal support system. This helps create more complex structures without the need to remove supports in post production, helping to save time and costs. Geometric complexity can be achieved more easily and more cost effectively than traditional methods like die casting and even PBF, making MHD ideal for lightweighting in industries like automotive and aerospace.
MHD is currently is most suitable for aluminium and zinc alloys, as well as for aluminium alloys that are traditionally considered ‘unweldable’.
Research of Denis Comier - Earl W. Brinkman Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology
Prof. Comier experimented with using MHD to print aluminium circuit board patterns onto flexible plastic substrates and, he reported that worked quite well. Drop off in conductivity was not there and there is good adhesion to the plastic. The feedstock is two orders of magnitude less expensive than silver nanoparticle inks, which could be a real game-changer in advancing printed electronics from research into industrial applications.
Molten metal jetting for additive manufacturing
Abstract
In molten metal jetting, where droplets of metal are jetted to 3D print a part, each layer may be traversed each successive layer with a normalizing grinding wheel or other leveling device such as a layer to level each successive layer, and/or the melt reservoir or printing chamber may be filled with an anoxic gas mix to prevent oxidation.
Application US16/427,448 events
2019-05-31 Application filed by Markforged Inc
2019-05-31 Assigned to MARKFORGED, INC.
2019-12-12 Publication of US20190375003A1
2020-03-17 Publication of US10589352B2
2024-12-04 Assigned to CONTINUOUS COMPOSITES INC.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10589352B2/en
