US Patent No: 6,401,001
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Layer manufacturing using deposition of fused droplets
Stats
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Jun 4, 2002
Issued date -
Jul 22, 1999
filing date -
09/358,871
serial no -
In Force
status
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Abstract
A solid freeform fabrication process and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object. The process comprises the steps of (1) positioning a material deposition sub-system a selected distance from a target surface, (2) operating this sub-system to deposit materials onto the target surface by carrying out the sub-steps of (a) operating a multiple-channel powder delivery device for supplying selected powder compositions at a predetermined flow rate to travel toward the target surface and (b) operating a focused energy beam to produce a fusion zone through which the powder particles, preferably in micron or nanometer sizes, are melted while in flight, thereby producing liquid droplets traveling to deposit onto the target surface, and (3) during the material deposition process, moving the deposition sub-system and the target surface relative to one another along selected directions in a plane defined by first and second coordinate directions and in a third direction orthogonal to this plane to form deposition materials into a three dimensional shape. These steps are preferably executed under the control of a computer system. Preferably, the system is also operated to generate a support structure for any un-supported feature of the object.
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First Claim
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International Classification(s)
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Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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| 4,863,538 Method and apparatus for producing parts by selective sintering | 295 | 1986 | |
| 4,944,817 Multiple material systems for selective beam sintering | 155 | 1989 | |
| 5,017,317 Gas phase selective beam deposition | 43 | 1989 | |
| 5,135,695 Positioning, focusing and monitoring of gas phase selective beam deposition | 29 | 1991 | |
| 5,169,579 Catalyst and plasma assisted nucleation and renucleation of gas phase selective laser deposition | 39 | 1991 | |
| 5,306,447 Method and apparatus for direct use of low pressure vapor from liquid or solid precursors for selected area laser deposition | 31 | 1992 | |
| 5,611,883 Joining ceramics and attaching fasteners to ceramics by gas phase selective beam deposition | 23 | 1995 | |
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| 5,617,911 Method and apparatus for creating a free-form three-dimensional article using a layer-by-layer deposition of a support material and a deposition material | 26 | 1995 | |
| 5,669,433 Method for creating a free-form metal three-dimensional article using a layer-by-layer deposition of a molten metal | 18 | 1995 | |
| 5,718,951 Method and apparatus for creating a free-form three-dimensional article using a layer-by-layer deposition of a molten metal and deposition of a powdered metal as a support material | 18 | 1995 | |
| 5,746,844 Method and apparatus for creating a free-form three-dimensional article using a layer-by-layer deposition of molten metal and using a stress-reducing annealing process on the deposited metal | 49 | 1995 | |
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| 5,171,360 Method for droplet stream manufacturing | 62 | 1990 | |
| 5,259,593 Apparatus for droplet stream manufacturing | 78 | 1992 | |
| 5,226,948 Method and apparatus for droplet stream manufacturing | 53 | 1992 | |
| 5,340,090 Method and apparatus for droplet stream manufacturing | 40 | 1993 | |
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| 4,665,492 Computer automated manufacturing process and system | 181 | 1984 | |
| 5,216,616 System and method for computer automated manufacture with reduced object shape distortion | 106 | 1989 | |
| 5,555,176 Apparatus and method for making three-dimensional articles using bursts of droplets | 51 | 1994 | |
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| 5,059,266 Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional article | 163 | 1990 | |
| 5,140,937 Apparatus for forming three-dimensional article | 65 | 1990 | |
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| 6,165,406 3-D color model making apparatus and process | 93 | 1999 | |
| 6,214,279 Apparatus and process for freeform fabrication of composite reinforcement preforms | 55 | 1999 | |
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| 5,814,265 Method and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography | 16 | 1995 | |
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| 5,637,175 Apparatus for forming an integral object from laminations | 87 | 1994 | |
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| 6,243,616 Method and device for producing three-dimensional objects | 11 | 1998 | |
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| 5,257,657 Method for producing a free-form solid-phase object from a material in the liquid phase | 58 | 1992 | |
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| 5,879,489 Method and apparatus for automatic fabrication of three-dimensional objects | 26 | 1996 | |
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| 4,615,904 Maskless growth of patterned films | 40 | 1985 | |
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| 5,738,817 Solid freeform fabrication methods | 113 | 1996 | |
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| 5,934,343 Method for dispensing of powders | 24 | 1998 | |
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| 5,136,515 Method and means for constructing three-dimensional articles by particle deposition | 147 | 1989 | |
| 5,301,863 Automated system for forming objects by incremental buildup of layers | 60 | 1992 | |
| 6,129,872 Process and apparatus for creating a colorful three-dimensional object | 65 | 1998 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Dec 4, 2013 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |