US 11,969,954 B2
Resistive heating-compression method and apparatus for composite-based additive manufacturing
Robert Swartz, Highland Park, IL (US); John Bayldon, Evanston, IL (US); Buckley Crist, Wilmette, IL (US); and Eugene Gore, Des Plaines, IL (US)
Assigned to Impossible Objects, Inc., Northbrook, IL (US)
Filed by Impossible Objects, Inc., Northbrook, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/198,780.
Application 17/198,780 is a continuation of application No. 15/701,098, filed on Sep. 11, 2017, granted, now 10,946,592.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/393,063, filed on Sep. 11, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0291437 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 70/30 (2006.01); B22F 7/06 (2006.01); B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/147 (2017.01); B29C 64/232 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/307 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 67/08 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); C22C 47/02 (2006.01); C22C 47/20 (2006.01); C22C 49/14 (2006.01); B22F 3/105 (2006.01); B22F 3/24 (2006.01); B22F 7/04 (2006.01); B22F 7/08 (2006.01); B22F 10/10 (2021.01); B29C 70/52 (2006.01); B32B 15/00 (2006.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 70/30 (2013.01) [B22F 7/064 (2013.01); B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/147 (2017.08); B29C 64/232 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/307 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B29C 67/08 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); C22C 47/025 (2013.01); C22C 47/20 (2013.01); C22C 49/14 (2013.01); B22F 2003/1051 (2013.01); B22F 3/24 (2013.01); B22F 7/04 (2013.01); B22F 2007/042 (2013.01); B22F 2007/045 (2013.01); B22F 7/08 (2013.01); B22F 10/10 (2021.01); B22F 2998/10 (2013.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01); B29C 70/528 (2013.01); B32B 15/00 (2013.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01); C22C 2200/02 (2013.01); C22C 2200/06 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing, comprising:
providing a stack of substrate sheets that have been applied with powder;
placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device;
compressing the stack at room temperature to a first height H1;
applying a current between the electrode assemblies to heat the stack to a first target temperature T1;
compressing the stack to an intermediate height that is less than H1 but greater than a final desired compression height H;
applying a current between the electrode assemblies to thereby heat the stack to a temperature T at which the powder changes state to a converted material;
compressing the stack to the final desired compression height H;
cooling the stack; and
removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device.