Claims
- 1. A process for removing loose powder from interior passages of a body made by layer manufacturing techniques comprising the steps of:
- placing the body within a bath of water charged with CO.sub.2 within a vessel;
- rapidly lowering the pressure in the vessel so as to cause the CO.sub.2 to come out of solution as bubbles, including within the interior passages of the body, the bubbles of CO.sub.2 thereby causing the expulsion of loose powder.
- 2. A process for removing loose powder from interior passages of a body made by layer manufacturing techniques comprising the steps of:
- placing the body within a liquid bath within a vessel;
- rapidly lowering the pressure in the vessel so as to cause gas to evolve from said liquid, including the evolving of gases within the interior passages of the body, the evolving of gases thereby causing the expulsion of loose powder.
- 3. A process for removing loose powder from interior passages of a body made by layer manufacturing techniques comprising the steps of:
- placing the body within a liquid bath within a vessel;
- subjecting the body and bath to elevated pressure;
- raising the temperature of the body and bath to, or near to, the boiling point of said liquid at the elevated pressure;
- rapidly lowering the pressure in the vessel so as to cause the liquid to boil, including boiling within the interior passages of the body, said boiling thereby causing the expulsion of loose powder.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/983,156, filed on Nov. 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,882 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/551,012, filed on Oct. 31, 1995.
US Referenced Citations (57)
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
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Country |
0431924A2 |
Jun 1991 |
EPX |
0446934A2 |
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EPX |
0470705A2 |
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EPX |
2111528 |
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JPX |
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JPX |
4061328 |
Feb 1992 |
JPX |
WO9220505 |
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WOX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
R. Sweet, "High-Frequency Recording with Electrostatically Deflected Ink Jets", The Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 131-136, 1965. |
H. Kodama, "Automated Method for Fabricating a Three-Dimensional Plastic Model with Photo-Hardening Polymer", Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 52, No. 11, Nov., 1981. |
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Related Publications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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551012 |
Oct 1995 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
983156 |
Nov 1992 |
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