Methods and apparatus for additive manufacturing with molten glass

US10464305B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Chikara Inamura · Somerville, US
• Daniel Lizardo · Cambridge, US
• Michael Stern · Cambridge, US
• Peter Houk · Ann Arbor, US
• Tal Achituv · Needham, US
• Neri Oxman · Cambridge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 5, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B33Y50/02
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A nozzle deposits a filament of viscous, molten glass onto a print bed, while the print bed rotates about a vertical axis and translates in x, y, and z directions. The deposition is computer controlled, such that the resulting deposited filament forms a desired glass object that is solid after it anneals. One or more motors rotate the print bed such that the direction of deposition of the molten glass is constant relative to the nozzle, even though the print bed is translating in different directions relative to the nozzle. Keeping the direction of deposition constant relative to the nozzle tends to prevent the extruded filament of molten glass from experiencing large, changing, tensile and shear forces that would otherwise occur and that would otherwise damage the filament.