Patent ID: 7534386

Claim:
A feedstock supply for use in building a three-dimensional model and a support structure using a layered-deposition modeling technique, the feedstock supply comprising: a thermoplastic modeling material for building the three-dimensional model, the thermoplastic modeling material having a glass transition temperature greater than about 220° C., and a melt flow in the range of about 5-30 grams/10 minutes pursuant to ASTM D1238 using a 1.2 kilogram load and a temperature of 420° C.; and a thermoplastic support material for building the support structure, the thermoplastic support material having a glass transition temperature that is within about 20° C. of the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic modeling material, and a melt flow in the range of about 5-30 grams/10 minutes pursuant to ASTM D1238 using a 1.2 kilogram load and a temperature of 420° C., wherein the thermoplastic support material comprises: a base polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyetherimides, polyphenylsulfones, polyphenylenes, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polystyrenes, acrylics, amorphous polyamides, polyesters, nylons, polyetheretherketone, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-sytrene; and a silicone release agent constituting about 0.5 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight of the thermoplastic support material; wherein at least one of the thermoplastic modeling material and the thermoplastic support material is provided in a filament form.