US 12,251,884 B2
Support structures in additive manufacturing
Eahab Nagi El Naga, Topanga, CA (US); John Russell Bucknell, El Segundo, CA (US); Chor Yen Yap, Gardena, CA (US); Broc William TenHouten, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); and Antonio Bernerd Martinez, El Segundo, CA (US)
Assigned to DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/582,409.
Prior Publication US 2018/0311732 A1, Nov. 1, 2018
Int. Cl. B22F 3/105 (2006.01); B22F 3/02 (2006.01); B22F 3/10 (2006.01); B22F 3/16 (2006.01); B22F 3/18 (2006.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 10/47 (2021.01); B22F 10/60 (2021.01); B22F 10/66 (2021.01); B23K 26/142 (2014.01); B23K 26/342 (2014.01); B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B29C 67/00 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B22F 10/30 (2021.01); B22F 12/55 (2021.01); B22F 12/60 (2021.01)
CPC B29C 64/40 (2017.08) [B22F 3/02 (2013.01); B22F 3/1017 (2013.01); B22F 3/164 (2013.01); B22F 3/18 (2013.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 10/47 (2021.01); B22F 10/60 (2021.01); B22F 10/66 (2021.01); B23K 26/142 (2015.10); B23K 26/342 (2015.10); B23K 26/702 (2015.10); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 10/30 (2021.01); B22F 12/55 (2021.01); B22F 12/60 (2021.01); B22F 2202/01 (2013.01); B22F 2202/06 (2013.01); B22F 2998/10 (2013.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for powder-bed fusion, comprising:
a depositor configured to deposit a plurality of layers of a powder material, the depositor configured to move across a work area of a powder bed to deposit each of the plurality of layers;
an energy beam source that generates an energy beam;
a heater press that at least partially sinters and compacts the powder material in a first area in a first one of the layers; and
a deflector that applies the energy beam to fuse the powder material in a second area in a second one of the layers, wherein the first area is underneath at least a portion of an overhang area of a build piece and above a region of unfused and unbound powder.