Patent ID: 11969795
Assignee: DESKTOP METAL, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  C  Y | IPC B

Claim 12:
13. A method of fabricating a metallic three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
depositing a build material into a desired shape of the three-dimensional object and a support structure, the build material including a binder system and a sinterable powder;
wherein the support structure at least partially underlies the three-dimensional object and provides structural support to at least a portion of a feature thereof against gravity-induced deformation;
wherein during the step of depositing the build material into the desired shape of the three-dimensional object is connected to the support structure by a weak connection;
debinding at least a portion of the binder system;
sintering the shape of the three-dimensional object in a sintering furnace into a densified final object and the support structure into a densified support structure;
wherein the during the step of sintering the support structure is subject to drag on a furnace floor that, absent the presence of the support structure, the shape of the three-dimensional object would be subject to during the step of sintering; and
applying a mechanical force sufficient to separate the densified final object and the support structure at the weak connection without damage to the densified final object.