US 12,325,154 B2
Systems for polymer powder performance improvements in additive manufacturing using encapsulation
Paul J Wolcott, Macomb, MI (US); Adam McFarland, Royal Oak, MI (US); Andrew Thomas Cunningham, Royal Oak, MI (US); and Malini Dusey, Dearborn, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/176,824.
Prior Publication US 2024/0293959 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/00 (2017.01); B29B 7/00 (2006.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B29C 64/314 (2017.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29K 421/00 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01)
CPC B29B 7/002 (2013.01) [B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B29C 64/314 (2017.08); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29K 2421/003 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for manufacturing a product, comprising:
a mixing station configured to prepare a solution containing a base material and a performance modifier, wherein the base material is configured to deliver performance characteristics of the product that are preselected and the performance modifier is configured to enhance the performance characteristics when the performance modifier is in the base material and forms the product, wherein the performance modifier comprises a material that is not compatible with being subjected to an energy source of additive manufacturing, and wherein encapsulating the performance modifier in the base material comprises an identified mechanism to protect the performance modifier during the being subjected to the energy source;
an encapsulation station configured to produce particles of the performance modifier in a coating of the base material as an encapsulate powder; and
an additive manufacturing cell including the energy source and configured to build the product from the encapsulate powder by an application of energy from the energy source,
wherein the performance modifier is shielded during the build from the energy source by the base material,
wherein the performance modifier is incorporated into the base material after the build and in the product.