Patent ID: 11618087

Abstract:
A printhead for heating metals with a high melting point comprises a cap with a metal-material inlet and a pressurized-gas inlet. A material manifold holds metal material fed through the metal-material inlet and is surrounded by a material manifold shield. A nozzle is coupled to the material manifold, and a refractory metal receptor tube surrounds the nozzle. An annular filament surrounds the receptor tube and defines an electron beam zone at the receptor tube to melt the metal material in the manifold. As the metal material is fed to the nozzle, it melts and a shield-gas manifold coupled to a shield-gas inlet supplies a shield gas to the material as the melted material exits the nozzle. With the shielding and materials used to construct the various parts of the printhead, metal feedstock with a melting point up to 3,000° C. may be used in additive manufacturing systems and processes.