Adhesion To Build Plate In 3D Printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018304365-A1
Application number	US-201815958576-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A 3D printer includes a build plate providing a surface on which an object is printed. Prior to printing, a sheet is fixed to the surface of the build plate. The sheet is composed of a material that adheres to a binder component of the feedstock used to print the object. During printing, the first layer of the printed object forms a bond with the sheet, which secures the location of the first layer and resists movement of the object during printing. Following printing and the object gaining sufficient rigidity, the object and sheet can be removed together from the printer. The sheet may then be peeled from the object, and the object can undergo debinding and/or sintering to create a finished object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of printing an object via a 3D printer, comprising:
printing a first layer of an object onto a top surface of a base sheet secured to a top surface of a build plate, the first layer adhering to the base sheet at at least one contact point, the first layer adhering to the base sheet via a bond between the base sheet and a binder component of the feedstock of the first layer; and printing subsequent layers of the object above the first layer to complete the printed object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bond enables the base sheet to be peeled from the first layer while maintaining integrity of the first layer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating the object from the base sheet at the at least one contact point.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the base sheet is composed of a material that forms a cross-linked bond with a binder material of the object at the at least one contact point during the printing.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising debinding the object via a chemical solvent.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the base sheet is composed of a material that dissolves in response to exposure to the chemical solvent.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the base sheet to a top surface of a build plate.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the base sheet includes printing the base sheet onto the top surface of the build plate.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the base sheet includes applying an adhesive between the base sheet and the top surface of the build plate.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the base sheet includes applying a vacuum between the base sheet and the top surface of the build plate.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein securing the base sheet includes clamping the base sheet to the top surface of the build plate.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the base sheet is coupled to a magnet, and wherein securing the base sheet to the build plate includes applying the magnet to the build plate to form a magnetic bond securing the base sheet to the build plate.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the base sheet is composed of at least one of polypropylene and polyethylene.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the base sheet has a thickness between 0.1 and 3 mm.

15 . An assembly comprising:
a base sheet configured to be secured to a top surface of a build plate of a 3D printer; and an object printed via the 3D printer, the object including: a first layer adhering to a top surface of the base sheet at at least one contact point, the first layer adhering to the base sheet via a bond between the base sheet and a binder component of the feedstock of the first layer; and subsequent layers printed above the first layer.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the bond enables the base sheet to be peeled from the first layer while maintaining integrity of the first layer.

17 . The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising separating the object from the base sheet at the at least one contact point.

18 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the base sheet is composed of a material that forms a cross-linked bond with a binder material of the object at the at least one contact point during the printing.

19 . The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising debinding the object via a chemical solvent.

20 . The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the base sheet is composed of a material that dissolves in response to exposure to the chemical solvent

Assignees

• Desktop Metal Inc

Inventors

• Brzezinski Tomek
• Gibson Michael A
• Kelly Michael

Classifications

• B22F3/24

  After-treatment of workpieces or articles {(B22F3/1146 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/223

  Foils or films, e.g. for transferring layers of building material from one working station to another · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F2003/247

  Removing material: carving, cleaning, grinding, hobbing, honing, lapping, polishing, milling, shaving, skiving, turning the surface · CPC title