Method of producing a plurality of engineered-components using an additive manufacturing process

1. A method of producing a plurality of engineered-components using an additive manufacturing process, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a build-platform;

b) forming a series of supports by depositing a first plurality of layers of a material onto the build-platform and solidifying the first plurality of layers thereto;

c) forming a first engineered-component by depositing a second plurality of layers of the material onto the series of supports and solidifying the second plurality of layers thereto;

d) forming a plurality of elongate support-structures separate from the series of supports by depositing a third plurality of layers of the material onto the build-platform and solidifying the third plurality of layers thereto, wherein this step is performed during steps b) and c); and

e) forming a second engineered-component by depositing a fourth plurality of layers of the material onto the plurality of elongate support-structures and solidifying the fourth plurality of layers thereto, wherein this step is performed after step c).

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

f) forming a second plurality of elongate support-structures by depositing a fifth plurality of layers of the material onto the formed first engineered-component, wherein said second plurality of elongate support-structures are interposed between the first engineered-component and the second engineered-component.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of:

g) removing the second plurality of elongate support-structures from both the first engineered-component and the second engineered-component.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second engineered-component is formed overlying the first engineered-component.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the second engineered-component is identical to the first engineered-component.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the second engineered-component is formed in an inverted orientation relative to the first engineered-component.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing process is selected from a list consisting of stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), fused filament fabrication (FFF), multi-jet modeling (MJM), and 3D printing (3DP).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first engineered-component and the plurality elongate support-structures are formed of a same material.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first engineered-component and the plurality of elongate support-structures are formed of a different material.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second engineered-component and the plurality of elongate support-structures are formed of a same material.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first engineered-component and the series of supports are formed of a different material.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

h) removing the series of supports from the first engineered-component.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

i) removing the plurality of elongate support-structures from the second engineered-component.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one support-structure of the plurality of elongate support-structures includes a plurality of branches extending between the at least one support-structure and the second engineered-component.