CPC B22F 10/22 (2021.01) [B22D 23/003 (2013.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] | 19 Claims |
1. A method of printing a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:
supplying a filament print material that is electrically conductive to a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, the ejector conduits comprising first ends configured to accept the print material and second ends comprising ejector nozzles;
advancing the filament print material in one or more of the ejector conduits of the array until the print material is disposed in the ejector nozzle of the one or more ejector conduits; and
flowing electrical current through the filament print material positioned in at least one of the ejector nozzles, thereby heating and expanding the filament print material in the at least one of the ejector nozzles so as to eject at least a portion of the filament print material from the at least one of the ejector nozzles onto a print substrate; and
repeating both the advancing and the flowing electrical current through the filament print material to form a three-dimensional object on the print substrate; and
wherein the filament print material has a width that is about 0 to about 2% smaller than an inner width of the ejector nozzle in which the filament print material is positioned.
|