| 摘要 |
Provided is a method and device for removing chemically dissolvable support material from objects created by a three-dimensional printing process. In one exemplary embodiment a tank for holding a cleaning solution has a cleaning section and a fluid handling section, and a full level below a top rim thereof. A generally box-shaped parts basket configured to be removeably installed within the cleaning section of the tank has four fluid impermeable walls, a bottom panel perforated throughout with an array of holes, and an openable top cover, wherein the openable top cover is below the full level of the tank and the bottom panel of the parts basket is supported above a floor of the tank when the parts basket is installed. A fluid pump disposed in a fluid handling section of the main tank is configured to inject a fluid stream into the parts basket at a downward angle with respect to horizontal, and at a lateral angle with respect to a line passing through a center of the parts basket, with sufficient velocity and flow rate to induce a fluid current that circulates around an interior of the parts basket as it continuously descends and exits the parts basket through the perforated bottom panel. |
| 主权项 |
1. A device for removing chemically dissolvable support material from objects created by a three-dimensional printing process, comprising:
a generally portable cabinet with front, back, and side panels, and an openable lid; a tank accessible through the lid and functioning as a watertight liner inside the cabinet, the tank having a cleaning section under the lid, and a fluid handling section in fluid communication with the cleaning section; a box shaped parts basket configured to be removeably installed within the cleaning section of the tank through the lid, the parts basket having fluid impermeable front, back, and side walls that intersect at four corners, a bottom panel perforated throughout with an array of holes, and an openable top cover, wherein the top cover is below a full level of the tank and the bottom panel of the parts basket is spaced above a floor of of the tank when the parts basket is installed in a parts cleaning position; and a fluid pump disposed in the fluid handling section of the tank and configured to inject a fluid stream into the parts basket at a predetermined flow rate, velocity, and direction to induce a spiraling, descending fluid current that circulates around an interior of the parts basket as it descends and exits the parts basket through the perforated bottom panel. |
