Patent ID: 7285237
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: B29C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method of post processing an article formed by selective deposition modeling to remove a support structure, the article comprising a three-dimensional object and the support structure, the three-dimensional object formed from a curable phase change composition and the support structure formed from a non-curable phase change composition, the method comprising the following steps: (a) providing a temperature controllable environment for the article having an initial temperature above the melting point of the non-curable phase change composition; (b) placing the article in the temperature controllable environment, the temperature controllable environment being the liquid non-curable phase change composition as a heat transfer medium; (c) holding the temperature of the controllable environment formed by the liquid non-curable phase change composition above the melting point of the non-curable phase change composition until substantially all of the support structure transitions to a flowable state and is removed from the three-dimensional object; (d) removing the three-dimensional object from the controllable environment formed by the liquid non-curable phase change composition and; (e) cooling the three-dimensional part.