Method for rapid forming of a ceramic work piece
US6217816A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC04B35/622
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An inorganic binder and a dissolving agent are put into ceramic powder. They are mixed to form a plastic green mixture. Then the said mixture is formed into a thin green layer. Preferably, this thin green layer will be preheated and dried such that the thin green layer will be hardened due to the bonding effect of the inorganic binder. A portion of the thin green layer exposed under a directed high-energy beam is sintered, preferably by a laser beam, to cause ceramic molecules to bond together locally due to heat fusion. By controlling the scanning path of the high-energy beam, a two-dimensional thin cross section of the ceramic part in arbitrary form can be produced. A second thin ceramic layer can be built onto the first thin ceramic layer and bonded to it by the same method. After multiple repetitions of this procedure a three dimensional ceramic part can be fabricated layer upon layer. The green portion, which is not scanned by the high-energy beam, will be removed with suitable method. A ceramic part can be rapidly produced in this way.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.