ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A deposition apparatus (100) and method for additive manufacturing are disclosed. The deposition apparatus (100) comprises at least one reservoir (16) for storing a colloidal suspension of material and a liquid carrier and at least one print head (10) comprising a plurality of nozzles (12) in fluid communication with the reservoir (16), each nozzle (12) configured to deposit a droplet of the colloidal suspension onto a substrate (46). The deposition apparatus (100) further comprises drying means (22) disposed adjacent the at least one print head (10), the drying means (22) configured to selectively supply a first energy pulse to a deposited droplet (36) in order to evaporate the liquid from the deposited droplet (36); and melting means (30) disposed adjacent the drying means (22), the melting means (30) configured to selectively supply a second energy pulse for melting the material in a droplet (36) dried by the drying means (22).