Patent ID: 11858180
Assignee: 9T LABS AG
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  Y | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method for consolidating an additively manufactured piece, the method comprising the steps of:
placing a first additively manufactured piece in a cavity of a thermally conductive container,
filling the cavity with one of a liquid and a semi-liquid material, so that the material directly contacts and completely surrounds the first piece, the material having a maximum operating temperature higher than a matrix melt temperature of the first piece, and the material having a positive relative thermal coefficient of expansion,
sealing the cavity,
curing the material, so that the cured material restricts movement of the first piece in the cavity,
heating the container, wherein, while the temperature within the container is increased by the heating, the cured material expands and then creates a pressure on the first piece, and wherein the temperature is increased by the heating until the temperature reaches a process temperature equal or higher than the matrix melt temperature of the first piece and lower than the maximum operating temperature of the material, and
maintaining the process temperature within the container so as to consolidate the first piece;
wherein during the steps of heating and maintaining, the cured material is an in-situ created monobloc mould for the first piece.