US 11,718,022 B2
Methods and apparatus for selectively combining particulate material
Neil Hopkinson, Sheffield (GB); and Helen Rhiannon Thomas, Nottingham (GB)
Assigned to Loughborough University, Leicestershire (GB)
Filed by Loughborough University, Leicestershire (GB)
Filed on Feb. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/170,531.
Application 17/170,531 is a continuation of application No. 14/237,160, granted, now 10,933,581, previously published as PCT/GB2012/051866, filed on Aug. 1, 2012.
Claims priority of application No. 1113612 (GB), filed on Aug. 5, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0162658 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B22F 12/13 (2021.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/362 (2021.01); B22F 3/00 (2021.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/55 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01)
CPC B29C 64/153 (2017.08) [B22F 3/003 (2013.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/362 (2021.01); B22F 12/13 (2021.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 12/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/55 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 2035/0838 (2013.01); Y02P 10/25 (2015.11)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a roller configured as a particulate material deposition device;
a source of radiation for sintering particulate material;
a radiant heater for pre-heating particulate material, wherein the radiant heater is separate to and positioned adjacent the roller and is configured to traverse above a surface of a part bed following the roller in order to transfer heat, via radiation, to deposited particulate material; and
a controller configured to:
(i) control provision of a layer of particulate material to a part bed using the roller;
(ii) control provision of radiation to sinter a portion of the particulate material of the layer;
(iii) control provision of a further layer of particulate material overlying a previously provided layer of particulate material including a previously sintered portion of particulate material using the roller;
(iv) control provision of radiation to sinter a further portion of the particulate material within the further layer and to sinter the further portion with the previously sintered portion;
(v) control successive repeating of blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and
control the radiant heater to pre-heat at least one layer of particulate material prior to and independent from sintering a portion of the particulate material of the at least one layer to prevent underlying sintered material from cooling to a temperature at which it curls.