THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING WITH POST-PRINT THERMAL TREATMENT

Organization Name

hewlett-packard development company, l.p.

Inventor(s)

Emre Hiro Discekici of San Diego CA (US)

THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING WITH POST-PRINT THERMAL TREATMENT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240246288 titled 'THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING WITH POST-PRINT THERMAL TREATMENT

The abstract describes a three-dimensional printing system that uses a build material consisting mostly of thermoplastic elastomer particles and a fusing agent to selectively fuse the particles together to create a three-dimensional object.

The build material contains thermoplastic elastomer particles with a specific particle size range.
The fusing agent includes water and a radiation absorber.
A printhead ejects the fusing agent onto successive layers of the build material.
A radiant energy source fuses the thermoplastic elastomer particles in contact with the radiation absorber to form the object.
A heating device enhances layer-to-layer fusion within the object.

Potential Applications: - Manufacturing of flexible and durable objects - Prototyping in industries like automotive and aerospace - Customized product design and production

Problems Solved: - Efficient and precise three-dimensional printing of thermoplastic elastomers - Enhanced layer-to-layer fusion for stronger objects

Benefits: - Increased flexibility in material choice for 3D printing - Improved strength and durability of printed objects - Enhanced customization options for unique designs

Commercial Applications: Title: Advanced Thermoplastic Elastomer 3D Printing System for Industrial Manufacturing This technology can be used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods for prototyping, customized product manufacturing, and rapid production of flexible and durable parts.

Questions about the technology: 1. How does the use of thermoplastic elastomer particles enhance the flexibility of 3D printed objects? - Thermoplastic elastomers provide a balance of flexibility and durability, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. 2. What role does the fusing agent play in the selective fusion process of the build material? - The fusing agent, containing water and a radiation absorber, helps selectively fuse the thermoplastic elastomer particles together under the influence of radiant energy.

Original Abstract Submitted

a three-dimensional printing system can include a build material including from about 95 wt % to 100 wt % of thermoplastic elastomer particles having a d50 particle size from about 2 �m to about 150 �m, and a printhead fluidly coupled to or fluidly coupleable to a fusing agent to selectively and iteratively eject the fusing agent onto successive placed individual layers thereof. the fusing agent can include water and a radiation absorber. the three-dimensional printing system can also include a radiant energy source positioned to expose the individual layers of the build material to radiation energy to selectively fuse the thermoplastic elastomer particles in contact with the radiation absorber to iteratively form a three-dimensional object including multiple layers of fused thermoplastic elastomer, and a heating device to heat the three-dimensional object to a temperature sufficient that layer-to-layer fusion at an interior location of the three-dimensional object is enhanced.