Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Patent
1995-11-09
1998-07-28
Shaw, Clifford C.
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
219 7612, B32K 900
Patent
active
057865620
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention refers to a method and a device for creating three-dimensional bodies, for example models, formers, finished products, semi-finished products, among others, by producing a number of cross-sectional layers of an object, that has to be manufactured, whereby by means of an energy producing device, which moves over the medium, chosen areas of the medium are bound together in its topmost layer in accordance with signals from a control unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During design work, visualization and sometimes physical representation of the three-dimensional geometries of the element that is building up, are desired. Such visualization is required in particular when working with CAD (Computer Aided Design), by which computed information can be used directly and without human intervention in the manufacturing process (CAM: Computer Aided Manufacturing). The costs for errors in connection with manufacturing rise if an error appears in the design, the error being transmitted to the automatically manufactured product.
In complex three-dimensional geometries, for example the cylinder heads in a combustion engine, the assembly of several interacting parts in a complex device, for example parts in an engine, early access to physical models and prototypes in a construction process is in most cases required to be able to carry out the real construction.
Big companies most often have their own departments for manufacturing models and prototypes. Smaller companies turn to special model producers for manufacturing prototypes or, because of high costs, manufacture new products without making any prototype.
In most cases, it is important to produce a model to be able to see details, fits and even to use the model for marketing purpose before finished products are manufactured.
Today's prototype manufacturing processes are frequently time consuming and costly.
The international application Wo 88/02677 discloses a method and apparatus for selectively sintering a layer of powder to produce a part comprising a plurality of sintered layers. In the apparatus, a laser beam is used, which, by means of control signals from a control unit, scans over the container holding the material that has to be sintered, i.e. the material fuses by means of a laser beam where it is hit by the beam. After each sintering step, new material is transferred for the next sintering step. Each sintered layer represents, for example, a layer in a computer generated model. Since laser technique is used for producing the model, the costs are high.
Through DE-Al-3 430 114, a device for producing three-dimensional models is known. This device uses a welding set, that welds together layers of welding threads to produce a model. The manufacturing is time consuming, has a bad resolution and cavities or the like are difficult to produce.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to produce a device for cost-effectively and quick manufacturing models, prototypes or finished products. The device shall even be able to use many different kinds of material for manufacturing the model/product.
This object is achieved by means of the energy producing device, which comprises at least one electrode, forming one of the poles in a circuit, where the other pole is constituted of said medium, which is electrically conducting or semiconducting when these poles are connected to at least a voltage source, whereby energy waves are formed between the electrode and the medium, for example in form of at least an electric arc or heat, that connect the material particles of the medium by changing the physical characteristics of the particles in the chosen area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more clearly described hereinbelow with reference to the embodiments shown on the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for producing three-dimensional bodies according to the invention.
FIG. 2-4 are sectional views taken along line A--A of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 in three different manufa
REFERENCES:
patent: 3670137 (1972-06-01), Inoue
patent: 4863538 (1989-09-01), Deckard
patent: 5354414 (1994-10-01), Feygin
"From Computer to Component in 15 Minutes: The Integrated Manufacture of Three-Dimensional Objects", Marcus, et al., JOM, No. 4, Apr. 1990, pp. 8-11.
Arcam Limited
Shaw Clifford C.
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