Patent ID: 8765045
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a surface-treated, three-dimensional object, the method comprising: placing a rapid-manufactured, three-dimensional object in a vapor smoothing chamber, the rapid-manufactured, three-dimensional object compositionally comprising a thermoplastic material, and having an exterior surface that includes surface effects due to a layer-by-layer, rapid manufacturing technique; vapor smoothing the exterior surface of the rapid-manufactured, three-dimensional object with a solvent vapor in the vapor smoothing chamber to reduce or eliminate the surface effects; monitoring a specular diffusivity of the exterior surface; discontinuing the vapor smoothing step when the specular diffusivity of the exterior surface reaches a first predetermined level, wherein the resulting smoothed three-dimensional object has a solvent-smoothed exterior surface with a higher glossiness than the exterior surface prior to the vapor smoothing step; media blasting at least a portion of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface to provide a burnished exterior surface; monitoring a specular diffusivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface; and discontinuing the media blasting when the specular diffusivity of the solvent-smoothed exterior surface reaches a second predetermined level, wherein the burnished exterior surface has a lower glossiness than the solvent-smoothed exterior surface prior to the media blasting step.