US 12,343,750 B2
Controlling meniscus position for magnetohydrodynamic metal manufacturing
Emanuel Michael Sachs, Newton, MA (US); and Paul A. Hoisington, Burlington, MA (US)
Assigned to Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed by Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/727,331.
Application 17/727,331 is a continuation of application No. 15/451,330, filed on Mar. 6, 2017, granted, now 11,338,365.
Application 15/451,330 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/020800, filed on Mar. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/303,341, filed on Mar. 3, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250146 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B05B 5/043 (2006.01); B05B 5/025 (2006.01); B22F 3/115 (2006.01); B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/22 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/10 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B05B 5/043 (2013.01) [B05B 5/025 (2013.01); B22F 3/115 (2013.01); B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/22 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/10 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/53 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 10/43 (2021.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a liquid metal in a fluid chamber defined by a housing, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region, wherein the liquid metal consists of one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy;
directing a magnetic field through the housing and the liquid metal in the fluid chamber;
moving the housing relative to a build plate and depositing a plurality of successive layers of droplets to form a three-dimensional object, wherein each droplet is ejected from the housing by the steps of:
delivering a first electric current into the liquid metal in the housing in a quiescent state, the first electric current intersecting the magnetic field in the liquid metal to exert a pullback force on the liquid metal, the pullback force sufficient to draw the liquid metal, in the quiescent state, in a direction from the discharge region toward the inlet region; and
following the step of delivering the first electric current, delivering a second electric current into the liquid metal, the second electric current intersecting the magnetic field in the liquid metal to exert a firing force on the liquid metal sufficient to eject liquid metal from the discharge region.