US 12,296,539 B2
Apparatus and methods for removable support structures in additive manufacturing
Muhammad Faizan Zafar, Long Beach, CA (US); Broc William TenHouten, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Antonio Bernerd Martinez, El Segundo, CA (US); Keith Allen Fleming, Torrance, CA (US); and John Russell Bucknell, El Segundo, CA (US)
Assigned to DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/725,136.
Application 15/725,136 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/582,409, filed on Apr. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2018/0311733 A1, Nov. 1, 2018
Int. Cl. B29C 64/40 (2017.01); 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 10/30 (2021.01); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 10/47 (2021.01); B22F 10/60 (2021.01); B22F 10/66 (2021.01); B22F 12/55 (2021.01); B22F 12/60 (2021.01); B23K 26/142 (2014.01); B23K 26/342 (2014.01); B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
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)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A support structure for supporting a surface of a build piece of a powder-bed fusion system, the support structure comprising:
a first leg having a length, the first leg attached to the surface at a connection point interface, wherein a first portion of the length is proximate the connection point interface,
a second portion of the length is further from the connection point interface than the first portion of the length; and
an orifice formed in the second portion of the first leg and configured to provide a fluid entry therein such that the fluid applies a force to the first portion of the length of the first leg in order to detach the first portion from the surface.