US 11,701,710 B2
System, apparatus, and methods for managing sintering supports
Gregory Thomas Mark, Newton, MA (US); Christopher Hoffman, Watertown, MA (US); Benjamin Hodsdon Gallup, Acton, MA (US); Maxim Seleznev, Belmont, MA (US); and Michelle Ling Chao, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to MARKFORGED, INC., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by MARKFORGED, INC., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/145,695.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/959,546, filed on Jan. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0213534 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B22F 10/40 (2021.01); B22F 10/14 (2021.01); B22F 10/68 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 10/64 (2021.01); B22F 10/66 (2021.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 10/14 (2021.01) [B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 10/64 (2021.01); B22F 10/66 (2021.01); B22F 10/68 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object, comprising steps of:
providing a part comprising a model material and one or more binder components within a volume of a heating apparatus;
adding a particle-based support to the volume such that the part is at least partially surrounded, the particle-based support comprising a pliable particle based support;
heating the part to a first temperature to form a pre-sintered object that possesses at least sufficient strength to retain its printed shape without the particle-based support; and
removing the particle-based support from about the pre-sintered object.