ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF MAGNETS

摘要

A unibody magnetic structure having layers of variably magnetized material is disclosed. The unibody magnetic structure can be formed by way of additive manufacturing, such as by a stereolithographic (SLA) process or a selective laser sintering (SLS) process. The SLA process can involve forming the structure from a molten pool of polymer material, with the material having a magnetic component dissolved therein. The SLS process can involve sintering the structure from a powder having a magnetic component. As each layer is formed, the layer can be selectively magnetized with a given polarity and strength. The magnetization of each formed layer can vary, such that the final structure comprises numerous layers having different shapes and sizes, as well as different levels and polarities of magnetization.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a magnetized structure, comprising:
forming a layer of magnetic material using a forming magnetic field having a forming magnetic field property and having magnetic field lines aligned generally along a longitudinal axis; and magnetizing the layer of magnetic material using a magnetizing magnetic field having a magnetizing magnetic field property and having magnetic field lines aligned generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.