Support structure removal system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167313-A1
Application number	US-201615051068-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 23, 2011
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A support structure removal system comprising:
a removal tank having an interior volume for holding a support removal fluid and configured to receive two or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a soluble support structure connected thereto; an agitation system comprising two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms independently operable of one another, the agitation system configured to agitate the support removal fluid in the removal tank; and wherein the two or more agitation mechanisms are configured to locally agitate the support removal fluid proximate the two or more three-dimensional parts to remove the soluble support structures of the two or more three-dimensional parts independently of one another.

22 . The support structure removal system of claim 21 , and further comprising two or more removable porous vessels, wherein in each vessel is configured to receive a three-dimensional part therein.

23 . The support structure removal system of claim 21 , wherein the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms each comprise an impeller rotatably secured to the removal tank within the interior volume, wherein each impeller is configured to agitate the support removal fluid for removal of the support structure.

24 . The support structure removal system of claim 22 , wherein the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms each comprise an impeller rotatable secured to the vessel, wherein each impeller is configured to agitate the support removal fluid within the interior region of the vessel.

25 . The support structure removal system of claim 23 , wherein two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms each further comprise a rotation-inducing assembly located on an exterior surface of the removal tank, wherein each rotation-inducing assembly is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate each impeller for removal of the support material from at least one three-dimensional part within the tank.

26 . The support structure removal system of claim 24 , wherein the two or more agitation mechanisms each further comprise a rotation-inducing assembly located on an exterior surface of the removal tank, wherein each rotation-inducing assembly is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate each impeller for removal of the support material from at least one of the three-dimensional parts within the vessels.

27 . The support structure removal system of claim 22 , and further comprising an alignment system comprising two or more spaced apart alignment mechanisms within the removal tank, the alignment mechanisms configured to align at least one of the two or more porous vessels with one of the two or more agitation mechanisms.

28 . The support structure removal system of claim 27 , wherein each of the alignment mechanisms comprise one or more alignment tabs wherein each porous vessel is configured to couple with at least one of one or more alignment mechanisms to prevent rotational and linear movement of the porous vessel within the tank.

29 . The support structure removal system of claim 27 , wherein the alignment system further comprises a magnet assembly configured to prevent linear movement of the porous vessels during agitation of the support removal fluid.

30 . A method of removing a support structure comprising:
placing two or more three-dimensional parts, each three-dimensional part having a soluble support structure connected thereto, into a removal tank having an interior volume holding a support removal fluid therein; activating an agitation system comprising two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms independently operable of one another and configured for agitating the support removal fluid in the removal tank; and locally agitating the support removal fluid proximate the two or more three-dimensional parts to remove the soluble support structures of the two or more three-dimensional parts independently of one another and at staggered and overlapping times.

31 . The method of claim 30 , and providing two or more removable porous vessels, wherein in each vessel is configured to receive a three-dimensional part therein and placing the two or more removable vessels in the removal tank.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms each comprise an impeller rotatably secured to removal tank within the interior volume, and further comprising agitating the support removal fluid for removing the support structure by independently rotating the impellers.

33 . The support structure removal system of claim 31 , wherein the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms each comprise an impeller rotatably secured to the vessel, and further comprising agitating the support removal fluid within the interior region of the vessel for removing the support structure from the three-dimensional part therein.

34 . The support structure removal system of claim 32 , and generating a rotating magnetic field with a rotation-inducing assembly to rotate each impeller for removal of the support material from the three-dimensional part within the tank, wherein the rotation-inducing assembly is located on an exterior surface of the removal tank.

35 . The support structure removal system of claim 33 , and generating a rotating magnetic field with a rotation-inducing assembly to rotate each impeller for removal of the support material from the three-dimensional part within the vessel wherein the rotation-inducing assembly is located on an exterior surface of the removal tank.

36 . The method of claim 31 , and positioning each of the two or more removable porous vessels proximate one of the two or more spaced apart agitation mechanisms within the removal tank, wherein the removal tank further comprises an alignment system comprising two or more spaced apart alignment mechanisms configured to align at least one of the two or more porous vessels with one of the two or more agitation mechanisms.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein each of the alignment mechanisms comprises one or more alignment tabs and wherein each porous vessel is configured to couple with at least one of the one or more alignment mechanisms to prevent rotational and linear movement of the porous vessel within the tank.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the alignment system further comprises a magnet assembly configured to prevent linear movement of the porous vessels during agitation of the support removal fluid.

Assignees

• Stratasys Inc

Inventors

• Swanson William J
• Mannella Dominic F
• Schloesser Ronald G

Classifications

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B29C64/35 Primary

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B08B3/104

  using propellers · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title

• B29C71/0009

  using liquids, e.g. solvents, swelling agents (spectacle cases, e.g. for cleaning contact lenses A45C11/04; disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses A61L12/00, using liquid substances A61L2/20; cleaning involving the use of liquid in general B08B3/00; for hydrating contact lenses B29D11/00067) · CPC title