FABRICATION OF 3D OBJECTS VIA ELECTROSTATIC POWDER DEPOSITION

摘要

A method of fabricating an object, comprising depositing a first layer of first object material on a support substrate electrode; applying a conductive agent material onto the first layer; depositing a first layer of charged powder on an intermediate substrate; conveying the first layer of charged powder on the intermediate substrate proximate to the first layer of first object material; and applying a transferring electric field to cause transfer of the first layer of charged powder from the intermediate substrate onto the first layer on the support substrate electrode, to form a first powder layer on the first layer on the support substrate electrode. Multiple powder layers may be deposited on the first layer. The method may be further comprised of fusing the powder layer(s) to form a first fused layer on the support substrate electrode. A related object fabrication apparatus is also disclosed.

主权项

1. An apparatus for fabricating an object, the apparatus comprising:
a) a charged powder transferring member comprising an electrically charge-relaxable member coupled to a transfer drive system operable to move the powder transferring member in cyclic motion; b) a charged powder layer generating device disposed proximate to the powder transferring member and adapted to dispense a layer of powder upon a powder transferring surface of the powder transferring member; c) an object build platform comprising a conductive support substrate surface and coupled to a platform drive system operable to move the conductive support substrate surface in synchronous motion with the cyclic motion of the powder transferring surface of the powder transferring member; and d) a post-transfer station comprising an electrically conductive material dispenser, the post-transfer station capable of relative motion with respect to the object build platform to enable the electrically conductive material dispenser to dispense electrically conductive material upon at least one of the conductive support substrate surface and a surface of a powder layer of the object disposed on the conductive support substrate surface.