Systems for post-processing additively manufactured objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319002-B2
Application number	US-202218050807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2022
Priority date	Oct 28, 2021
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of containers configured to receive a plurality of additively manufactured object having excess material thereon. The system can include a rotor having a central shaft and a plurality of arms, each arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of each arm can be coupled to the central shaft and a second end of each arm can be coupled to a respective container of the plurality of containers. The system can also include an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The system can further include at least one heat source carried on the rotor to heat the excess material to decrease a viscosity thereof.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for processing additively manufactured objects, the system comprising:
a plurality of containers configured to receive a plurality of additively manufactured object having excess material thereon;
a rotor comprising:
a central shaft,
a plurality of arms, each arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of each arm is coupled to the central shaft, and
a plurality of mounting structures, each mounting structure coupled to the second end of a respective arm of the plurality of arms, wherein each mounting structure extends upward relative to the respective arm, and wherein each mounting structure is coupled to a respective container of the plurality of containers;

an actuator configured to spin the rotor and the plurality of containers around an axis of rotation so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects received within the plurality of containers; and
at least one heat source carried on the rotor, wherein the at least one heat source is configured to heat the excess material to decrease a viscosity thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured objects comprise a partially cured polymeric resin, and the excess material comprises uncured polymeric resin.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the uncured polymeric resin comprises a viscosity of at least 15 Pa-s at 20° C.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers comprise a plurality of boxes.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each container is at a fixed angle relative to the corresponding mounting structure.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure is not orthogonal to the respective arm.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each container is configured to receive a build platform supporting a subset of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the build platform is supported within the container by brackets.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each container comprises a support configured to suspend the build platform above a bottom surface of the container.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source comprises a plurality of heat sources.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein each heat source is coupled to a respective arm of the plurality of arms via a mounting structure.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein each heat source is configured to provide localized heating to a subset of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source is configured to heat the excess material to a temperature of at least 50° C.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the temperature is below a post-curing temperature of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source is configured to heat the excess material while the actuator spins the rotor.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor is configured to rotate the plurality of additively manufactured objects around at least two different axes of rotation.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a collection device configured to collect at least some of the excess material removed from the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the collection device comprises the plurality of containers.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured objects comprise a plurality of orthodontic appliances.

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Meenakshisundaram Viswanath
• Kaza Srinivas
• Li Chunhua
• Pickens Lance Robert
• Stromenger Shawn
• Sato Jun
• O'Leary Siobhan
• Webber Peter
• Kelly Brett E
• Chavez Jennifer

Classifications

• B29C71/04

  by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles (during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08)} · CPC title

• B29C35/0805

  using electromagnetic radiation · CPC title

• B29C64/30

  Auxiliary operations or equipment · CPC title

• B29C64/357

  Recycling · CPC title

• B29C64/124

  using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified · CPC title