Method of freeform fabrication by selective gelation of powder suspensions
US5697043A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/25
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a novel method for freeform fabrication. Specifically, the method of solid freeform fabrication has the steps of: PA1 (a) preparing a slurry by mixing powder particles with a suspension medium and a gelling polysaccharide; PA1 (b) making a layer by depositing an amount of said powder slurry in a confined region; PA1 (c) hardening a selected portion of the layer by applying a gelling agent to the selected portion; and PA1 (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) to make successive layers and forming a layered object. In many applications, it is desirable to remove unhardened material followed by heating to remove gellable polysaccharide then sintering.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.