Patent ID: 9597834
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: B29C,B33Y,C25D,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of fabricating a plurality of multi-element three-dimensional structures, comprising: (A) forming a plurality of first elements of the plurality of multi-element three-dimensional structures from a plurality of successively formed layers, wherein each successive layer comprises at least two materials and is formed on and adhered to a previously formed layer, one of the at least two materials is a structural material and the other of the at least two materials is a sacrificial material, and wherein each successive layer defines a successive cross-section of the three-dimensional structure, and wherein the forming of each of the plurality of successive layers comprises: (B) after the forming of the plurality of successive layers, separating at least a portion of the sacrificial material from multiple layers of the structural material to reveal the plurality of first elements of the plurality of multi-element three-dimensional structures; (C) supplying a plurality of second elements of the plurality of multi-element three-dimensional structures; and (D) for each pair of first and second elements, bringing the first and second elements into contact with one another and elastically deforming at least an initial deformation portion of one of the first or second elements relative to another of the first and second elements to bring the first and second elements into a desired retention configuration which is maintained at least in part by a structural strength of the first and second elements and the at least partial reformation of the deformation portion as the first and second elements move into the retention configuration, and wherein the depositing at least one of the two materials is by electroplating.