Patent ID: 6253116
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B29C,B33Y

Abstract:
A system for use in rapid freezing prototyping, using at least two crystalloid materials capable of transitioning between liquid and solid states at a threshold temperature, said system comprising:a material supply subsystem and a material deposition subsystem in fluid communication with said supply subsystem;a three-dimensional spatial positioning subsystem connected to said material deposition subsystem and operative to position said material deposition subsystem at a plurality of points within a predetermined region; anda freezing chamber having an interior region defining said predetermined region;whereby said material supply subsystem directs said material in said liquid state to said material deposition subsystem; said positioning subsystem adapted to position said material deposition subsystem at one of said points; said material deposition subsystem adapted to maintain said material at least one liquid state temperature proximate to said threshold temperature and depositing said material within said freezing chamber; said chamber causing said material to have a solid state temperature by lowering the temperature of said material from said liquid state through said threshold temperature to said solid state temperature; andsaid material supply subsystem is adapted to supply a first and second crystalloid material having a first and second threshold temperatures respective; andsaid material deposition subsystem is adapted to maintain said first material at a first liquid state temperature and said second material at a second liquid state temperature;such that said two crystalloid materials form first and second layers respectively.