Patent ID: 6710296
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: B23K,B23P

Abstract:
A method for forming metal items, the method comprising:(a)suspending a rotatable roller over a support surface; (b)positioning a supply of metal adjacent the support surface; and (c)creating a first layer of the item by melting a portion of the metal with a directional heat source onto the support surface while simultaneously rolling the roller over a plasticized portion of the molten metal in a continuous process, a distance between the roller and the support surface defining a thickness of the first layer of the item, then (d)creating a second layer of the item by melting a portion of the metal with the directional heat source onto the first layer while simultaneously rolling the roller over a plasticized portion of the molten metal of the second layer in a continuous process, a distance between the roller and the first layer defining a thickness of the second layer of the item.