Patent ID: 11904529
Assignee: TEPHA, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  A  C | IPC A  B

Claim 0:
1. A method for fabricating a three-dimensional object made from a composition of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer or blend thereof, wherein the method comprises:
providing an apparatus for fused pellet deposition, the apparatus comprising (a) a heated pressurized reservoir for polymer pellets fitted at one end with a gas line, (b) a nozzle located at the opposite end of the reservoir to the gas line inlet, (c) a movable stage located underneath the nozzle, and (d) a computer programmed with 3D CAD data for the object that can control the position of the nozzle and stage;
placing pellets of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer or blend thereof in the reservoir;
heating the pellets in the reservoir to a temperature of 85 to 180° C.;
pressurizing the reservoir to a pressure of 650 to 2,000 kPa; and
ejecting molten polymer through the nozzle to form the printed object on the stage, wherein the diameter of the nozzle is 0.1 to 1.0 mm.