Desktop Metal, Inc.
System for Drying a Paste-Based Crafting Medium During Three-Dimensional Printing

Abstract:

This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a system for drying a paste-based crafting medium during three-dimensional printing and a method thereof. The system can comprise a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material for a mold layer in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The system also includes a drying means which can be a heating system or a drying apparatus, that in some embodiments can be attached to the printhead. The three-dimensional imaging process for making objects, preferably metal objects or ceramic objects, on a layer-by-layer basis under the control of a data processing system is disclosed. The drying of the object or mold is crucial in the three-dimensional imaging process because it can affect the overall quality of the object. A solution to this problem is achieved in the present invention by using a drying step after finishing each layer of the object (both mold and paste). This is achieved in some embodiments by using a drying apparatus comprising a radiating heater and air circulation fan mounted on to the moving print head. The print head can repeatedly scan the printed layer and apply heat and air circulation to improve drying in a controlled manner. This system and method provides improved evenness in the drying and reduces the risk of cracks developing in the deposited object, and also reduces the risk of further problems during the subsequent processing steps to provide the finished object.