US 12,240,040 B2
Techniques for depowdering additively fabricated parts via rapid pressure change and related systems and methods
Emanuel M. Sachs, Newton, MA (US); and Midnight Zero, Wilmington, MA (US)
Assigned to Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed by Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/976,282.
Application 17/976,282 is a division of application No. 17/274,336, granted, now 11,511,350, previously published as PCT/US2019/051151, filed on Sep. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/730,953, filed on Sep. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0150029 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. B22F 10/68 (2021.01); B08B 5/00 (2006.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)
CPC B22F 10/68 (2021.01) [B08B 5/00 (2013.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of depowdering one or more additively fabricated parts comprising bound metal powder and having unbound metal powder on their surface, the method comprising:
arranging the one or more additively fabricated parts within an interior at a first side of a chamber;
pressurizing the interior of the chamber; and
depressurizing the chamber, thereby causing at least some of the unbound metal powder to separate from the additively fabricated parts,
wherein depressurizing the chamber comprises opening a valve of the chamber, the valve arranged at a second side of the chamber opposing the first side of the chamber;
wherein the chamber has a length and a height, and wherein a ratio of the length to the height is between 2 and 5.