Desktop Metal’s patent involves a method for fabricating metallic 3D objects with separable supports. By forming an interface layer between the object and support during sintering, bonding is inhibited. The process includes debinding and sintering to create a final object and separable support structure. GlobalData’s report on Desktop Metal gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Desktop Metal, Additive manufacturing monitoring sensors was a key innovation area identified from patents. Desktop Metal's grant share as of April 2024 was 39%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method of fabricating metallic 3d objects with separable support
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11969795B2) discloses a method for fabricating metallic three-dimensional objects with separable support structures. The process involves forming successive layers of build material, including a binder system and metal powder, into the desired shape of the object and a support structure. During sintering in a furnace, the support structure experiences drag on the furnace floor, ensuring the object's shape remains intact. The support structure is designed to be separable from the final object at a weak connection, allowing for easy removal without damaging the densified final product. The method also includes steps for debinding the binder system and sintering the object to achieve a densified final product.
The patent details various aspects of the fabrication process, including extruding build material through a moving nozzle, using metal injection molding feedstock, and creating nested parts within the final object. Additionally, the method involves depositing build material to form the object and support structure, with the support structure providing structural support against gravity-induced deformation. The weak connection interface layer between the support structure and object allows for easy separation during sintering. Overall, the patented method offers a novel approach to fabricating metallic three-dimensional objects with separable support structures, ensuring the integrity of the final product while simplifying the manufacturing process.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
