Metal drop ejecting three-dimensional (3D) object printer and method for preparing the metal drop ejecting 3D object printer for printing

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a removable vessel to reduce the time required for start-up procedures after the printer is serviced. The removable vessel is filled with solid metal that is heated to its melting temperature before the bulk wire is inser...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Sheflin, Joseph C, McConville, Paul J, Hilton, Joshua, LeFevre, Jason M
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a removable vessel to reduce the time required for start-up procedures after the printer is serviced. The removable vessel is filled with solid metal that is heated to its melting temperature before the bulk wire is inserted into the vessel to commence printing operations. The melting of the solid metal in the removable vessel requires less time that the melting of an length of bulk wire adequate to produce a volume of melted metal suitable for printer operation. The solid metal in the removable vessel can be metal pellets, metal powder, or a solid metal insert.