SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH METAL-BASED ALLOYS

摘要

A digital manufacturing system (10) comprises a build chamber (14), a build platform (32) disposed within the build chamber (14), at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head (40) disposed within the build chamber (14) and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform (32) in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical (56) having a first end located outside of the build chamber (14) and a second end connected to the deposition head (40), and at least one gantry assembly (16, 38) configured to cause relative motion between the build platform (32) and the deposition head (40) within the build chamber (14), where the at least one gantry assembly (16, 38) comprises a motor (28, 34, 36) disposed outside of the build chamber (14).