Methods and Apparatus for Additive Manufacturing with Molten Glass

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017291841-A1
Application number	US-201615331898-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2016
Priority date	Apr 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A nozzle deposits a filament of viscous, molten glass onto a print bed, while the print bed rotates about a vertical axis and translates in x, y, and z directions. The deposition is computer controlled, such that the resulting deposited filament forms a desired glass object that is solid after it anneals. One or more motors rotate the print bed such that the direction of deposition of the molten glass is constant relative to the nozzle, even though the print bed is translating in different directions relative to the nozzle. Keeping the direction of deposition constant relative to the nozzle tends to prevent the extruded filament of molten glass from experiencing large, changing, tensile and shear forces that would otherwise occur and that would otherwise damage the filament.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising a nozzle extruding molten glass material onto a print bed during a period of time, such that:
(a) the molten glass material is deposited in a deposition direction; (b) the nozzle is stationary relative to a fixed position throughout the entire period; (c) one or more motors actuate the print bed such that, during the period
(i) the print bed undergoes translation relative to the fixed position and to the nozzle, and
(ii) the print bed undergoes rotation about a point in the print bed; and
(d) the deposition direction is substantially constant, relative to the nozzle and to the fixed position, throughout the entire period, even though the rotation involves the print bed substantially rotating about the point during the period.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the extruding is a part of a fabrication process for fabricating a 3D object that comprises the glass material.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a gas torch heating the nozzle after the molten glass material is extruded through the nozzle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising computer-controlled shears cutting a filament of glass material extruded from the nozzle.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising compressed air cooling the nozzle, after the shears cut the filament.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising one or more computers transforming coordinates of points in a virtual model of the 3D object into points in a trajectory of the print bed.

7 . A system comprising:
(a) a print bed; (b) a first kiln for heating molten glass material; (c) a nozzle for extruding the molten glass material onto the print bed during a period of time, which nozzle is stationary relative to a fixed position throughout the entire period; and (d) one or more motors for actuating the print bed such that, during the period
(i) the print bed undergoes translation relative to the fixed position and to the nozzle,
(ii) the print bed undergoes rotation about a point in the print bed,
(iii) the molten glass material is deposited in a deposition direction, and
(iv) the deposition direction is substantially constant, relative to the nozzle and to the fixed position, throughout the entire period, even though the rotation involves the print bed substantially rotating about the point during the period.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the extruding is a part of a fabrication process for fabricating a 3D object that comprises the glass material.

9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a gas torch for heating the nozzle before the molten glass material is extruded through the nozzle.

10 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising computer-controlled shears for cutting a filament of glass material extruded from the nozzle.

11 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising tubing for delivering compressed air to cool the nozzle.

12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more computers that are programmed to transform coordinates of points in a virtual model of the 3D object into points in a trajectory of the print bed.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Inamura Chikara
• Lizardo Daniel
• Stern Michael
• Houk Peter
• Achituv Tal
• Oxman Neri

Classifications

• B33Y50/02 Primary

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• C03B19/025 Primary

  by injection moulding, e.g. extrusion · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• C03B19/02 Primary

  by casting {molten glass, e.g. injection moulding} · CPC title