Patent ID: 9718218
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B29B,B29C,B29L,B33Y,D01D,D01F,Y10T

Claim:
1. A consumable micro-pellet for use in a powder-based additive manufacturing system, the consumable micro-pellet characterized by a core portion extending along a longitudinal length of the consumable micro-pellet, the core portion compositionally comprising a first thermoplastic material and a shell portion extending along the longitudinal length of the consumable micro-pellet and at least partially encasing the core portion, the shell portion compositionally comprising a second thermoplastic material that is different from the first thermoplastic material, characterized by the consumable micro-pellet having an average cross-sectional diameter ranging from 10 microns to 250 microns, an average ratio between the length of the micro-pellet and the diameter of the micro-pellet that ranging from 1:2 to 3:1, and further characterized by the consumable micro-pellet being configured to be melted and used to form a plurality of solidified layers of a three-dimensional object, the layers at least partially retaining cross-sectional profiles corresponding to the core portion and the shell portion of the consumable micro-pellets.