Device, special paper, and method for producing shaped articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10889055-B2
Application number	US-201815944347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, a special paper and a method for producing three-dimensional objects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A special paper, which is suitable for producing a three-dimensional body from individual layers, which includes the following properties:
a. a variable tendency to be dissolved by printing with a medium;
b. a capacity of the special papers to bind to each other due to an activation in the areas defined by printing; and
c. a solubility of the unbound special paper due to the action of a suitable solvent, heat and/or mechanical energy;

wherein the special paper comprises:
i. a water soluble polymer including polyvinyl alcohol; and
ii. a short cellulose fiber, a naturally occurring substance, a metal, a stone, a mineral, or a ceramic.

2. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the special paper includes the cellulose fiber.

3. The special paper of claim 2 , wherein the special paper includes a fluid or a powder which provides the binding capacity to the special paper.

4. The special paper of claim 1 ,
wherein the activation of the binding capacity of the special paper takes place by a transferring of a fluid or a powder from an ink ribbon of a dot matrix printer, from an ink of an ink-jet printer or from a fixed powder of a laser printer or a laser copier.

5. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the solubility of the unbound special paper is due to the action of a solvent.

6. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the solubility of the unbound special paper is due to heat.

7. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the solubility of the unbound special paper is due to mechanical energy.

8. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the special paper is flat and smooth and has a uniform thickness and/or the special paper is made of materials that may be glued together.

9. A material system including a special paper, and a printable medium capable of changing a binding capacity of the special paper in the printed locations;
wherein the printable medium includes polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, or a wax; and
wherein the special paper is suitable for producing a three-dimensional body from individual layers, which includes the following properties:
a. a variable tendency to be dissolved by printing with a medium;
b. a capacity of the special papers to bind to each other due to an activation in the areas defined by printing; and
c. a solubility of the unbound special paper due to the action of a suitable solvent, heat and/or mechanical energy;

wherein the special paper comprises:
i. a polymer; and
ii. a short cellulose fiber, a naturally occurring substance, a metal, a stone, a mineral, or a ceramic.

10. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the printable medium changes the binding capacity due to microwave selectability of the printed paper.

11. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the material system includes a temperature activatable substance and the binding capacity is due to a diffusion of the temperature-activatable substance.

12. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the material system includes a binder material that melts and the printable medium includes a material that evaporates and prevents melting of the binder material that melts in the printed regions.

13. The material system of claim 10 , wherein the binder material that melts includes a material that has a high absorption of microwave radiation having wavelength characteristic of a conventional microwave oven that heats water.

14. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the binder material that melts is a plastic, and the printable material is free of humectant or other volatile constituents.

15. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the printable medium includes water and a component that prevents or reduces evaporation of the water, wherein the component that prevents or reduces evaporation includes a solid thickener or a liquid thickener.

16. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the printable medium includes the polyvinyl alcohol or the polymethyl methacrylate.

17. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the polymer is water soluble.

18. The material system of claim 17 , wherein the polymer includes polyvinyl alcohol.

19. The special paper of claim 1 , wherein the special paper includes the cellulose fibers.

20. The special paper of claim 19 , wherein the cellulose fibers have a length that is shorter than a thickness of the special paper.

21. The special paper of claim 19 , wherein the cellulose fibers have a length of 20 to 30 μm and/or the special paper has a thickness of 80 μm.

22. A special paper, which is suitable for producing a three-dimensional body from individual layers, which includes the following properties:
a. a variable tendency to be dissolved by printing with a medium;
b. a capacity of the special papers to bind to each other due to an activation in the areas defined by printing; and
c. a solubility of the unbound special paper due to the action of a suitable solvent, heat and/or mechanical energy;

wherein the special paper includes:
i. a polymer; and
a ceramic.

23. The special paper of claim 22 , wherein the special paper is a green state film.

24. The special paper of claim 23 , wherein the special paper is dried for removing an evaporable liquid.

25. The special paper of claim 24 , wherein the special paper has a thickness of less than 100 μm.

26. The material system of claim 9 , wherein the printable medium includes the wax.

27. The material system of claim 26 , wherein the printable medium includes ceramic particles.

Assignees

• Voxeljet Ag

Inventors

• Günther Daniel
• Ederer Ingo

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B32B38/10

  Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically · CPC title

• B29C64/147 Primary

  using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title