CPC Definition - Subclass B33Y
This place covers:
Technologies involving the use or application of processes or apparatus that produce three-dimensionally shaped structures by selectively depositing successive layers of material one upon another. In particular it covers processes, apparatus, materials, and other aspects of additive manufacturing, i.e., making, repairing, or modifying articles of manufacture by the selective application of multiple layers of material. The applied layers may be applied directly, as in a printing process, or by selective solidification of material onto a substrate or previously developed layers, for example, by selective sintering of a particulate.
In order to be considered additive manufacturing for this subclass each layer of material successively applied must essentially be formed directly on the previously applied layer of material, or on a substrate or support in the case of the first applied layer. In this regard, laminating premade layers together is not an aspect of additive manufacturing, and is classified per se in B32B 37/00.
Likewise, build-up welding, for the purpose of restoring dimensional integrity to worn objects, is not an aspect of additivive manufacturing, and is classified per se in B23K 9/04 or B23K 26/34. This subclass does cover build-up welding that creates objects per se, or missing or broken pieces of existing objects.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Preparation of cocoa products | |
Processes for laying down cocoa products, e.g. chocolate in moulds or drop-by-drop on a surface, optionally with the associated hating, cooling portioning, cutting cast-tail, anti-drip processes | |
Preparation of food or foodstuffs | |
Moulded food or foodstuffs | |
Making of dental prostheses | |
Coating apparatus, in general | |
Coating processes, in general | |
Manufacture of workpieces or articles from metallic powder characterised by the manner of compacting or sintering | |
Manufacture of work-pieces or articles from metallic powder by selective deposition modelling | |
Direct sintering or melting | |
Producing shaped articles from ceramic or cementitous material | |
Additive manufacturing of shaped articles from ceramic or cementitous material | |
Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article | |
Additive manufacturing of shaped articles from plastics | |
Moulding by agglomeration | |
Forme preparation | |
Typewriters or selective printers | |
Braille printing | |
Superimposing layers to produce ornamental structures | |
Sintering of ceramic materials | |
Culture of undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells | |
General methods for three-dimensional culture of undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells | |
Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material | |
Photosensitive materials | |
Photomechanical production of patterned surfaces | |
Electrographic processes using a charge pattern | |
Programme-control systems for surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing | |
General purpose image data processing | |
Image acquisition in general | |
Image enhancement for 2D or 3D images | |
Image analysis for 2D or 3D images | |
Image coding, e.g. from bit-mapped to non bit-mapped | |
3D [Three dimensional] image rendering | |
3D [Three dimensional] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects | |
Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics | |
Geography, e.g. relief models | |
Electron-beam or ion-beam tubes for localised application of thin layers on objects | |
Manufacture of semiconductor or otherwise not provided for electric solid state devices | |
Manufacturing printed circuits by printing of conductive patterns | |
Manufacturing printed circuits by ink-jet printing of conductive patterns |
- This subclass is for obligatory supplementary classification of subject matter already classified as such in other classification places, when the subject matter contains an aspect of additive manufacturing.
- The classification symbols of this subclass are not listed first when assigned to patent documents.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
3D printing | Additive manufacturing where the buildup of successive layers of material includes the use of a printer-like device having a servo controlled head for dispensing materials that form the layers, similar to that used by inkjet printers |
Stereolithography | Additive manufacturing technique where the successive layers of material are formed by selectively hardening regions of polymeric material successively applied to the structure, typically by the use of laser light. |
In patent documents, the following abbreviations are often used:
SLS | Selective laser sintering |
DTM | Desktop manufacturing |
LOM | Laminated Object Modelling |
3DP, 3D-printing | Three-dimensional printing |
SFF | Solid Freeform Fabrication |
FDM | Fused Deposition Modelling |
3DD | Three-dimensional deposition |
SDM | Selective Deposition Modelling |
LDM | Layered deposition modelling |
3DM | Three-dimensional modelling |
BPM | Ballistic Particle Modelling |
This place covers:
Processes and methods for manufacturing objects using additive manufacturing techniques. Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2010/0255213)
This place covers:
- Machines and systems for carrying out additive manufacturing methods to produce objects
- Subcombinations of machines that carry out additive manufacturing methods to produce objects
- Accessories for machines that carry out additive manufacturing methods. Accessories include things attachable to or used in conjunction with an additive manufacturing machine that have a direct association with the additive manufacturing machine, per se. Examples of accessories included in this group are devices to protect operators from harm by additive manufacturing machines, platforms to support structures being manufactured, and devices for calibrating additive manufacturing machines.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2007/0023977)
Apparatus for treating or handling the raw materials for creating objects or the objects themselves outside of the additive manufacturing apparatus are classified in B33Y 40/00.
This place covers:
The handling or treating of materials used in an additive manufacturing process, or the subsequent treating or handling of objects produced by an additive manufacturing process. Also covered are ancillary components or process steps not directly involving the additive manufacturing process or apparatus, per se, such as cleaning raw materials used in the additive manufacturing process, or recycling residual material from the manufacturing process.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2013/0075957)
This place covers:
- Data processing aspects related to an object to be manufactured in an additive manufacturing process, for example, combining together data from different sources to produce composite production data for said object to be made.
- Acquiring, sending, or receiving data that will be used in additive manufacturing, either internal or external to the additive manufacturing apparatus.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2011/0205583)
This place covers:
Data processing specially adapted for managing the additive manufacturing process performed by one or more additive manufacturing apparatuses.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2013/0053995)
This place covers:
Subject matter related to the composition, structure, or other properties of the materials used in an additive manufacturing process to make an object.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2008/0122141)
This place covers:
Products obtained by additive manufacturing
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this group:
(US 2014/0033538)
