Patent ID: 6391251
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B05B,B22F,B23K,B29C,B33Y,F01D,F05D,F28F,Y02P

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:defining a solid model (141, 146) which describes a finished three-dimensional structure (130), said solid model (141, 146) having embedded features, in a computer-aided design program stored on a control computer (129); depositing a layer (15) of material feedstock (126, 127) on a substrate (19) using a directed material deposition process (123); said deposition process (123) controlled by said computer-aided design program; creating a plurality of said embedded features in said finished three-dimensional structure (130) by including regions (152) having voids, regions (132, 134) including a first material (126) and regions (136) including a plurality of materials (126, 127); and forming said finished three-dimensional structure (130) having said plurality of embedded features by repeating said depositing, in a layer-by-layer manner, according to said solid model (141, 146).