Method and apparatus for support removal using directed atomized and semi-atomized fluid
An apparatus and method for removing support material from and/or smoothing surfaces of an additively manufactured part (the “AM part”) is disclosed. The apparatus may include a chamber, a support surface within the chamber, and one or more nozzles within the chamber. The nozzles may be the same size or different sizes. The support surface may be configured to support the AM part. The support surface may have one or more openings sized and configured to allow the fluid to pass through the opening(s). The nozzles may be configured to spray a fluid at the AM part, and the spray may be an atomized or semi-atomized spray of the fluid. For removing support material from parts with internal spaces, such as cavities or passages, the apparatus can include a nozzle at the end of an adjustable flexible hose member that can be adjusted to spray into an internal space of the part. Alternatively, for removing unwanted support material from multiple parts with internal spaces, the apparatus may include a submersion tank.
1 . A method of removing support material from and/or smoothing surfaces of an additively manufactured part, comprising:
providing a chamber, a submersion tank located in the chamber, a nozzle located above the submersion tank, and a fluid inlet to the submersion tank;
placing an additively manufactured part in the submersion tank;
filling the submersion tank with fluid;
causing a circular flow of the fluid in the submersion tank that causes the additively manufactured part to tumble in the circular flow of the fluid; and
spraying the fluid from the nozzle located above the submersion tank that causes the additively manufactured part to remain under a surface of the fluid and causes the fluid to overflow from the submersion tank, wherein the nozzle generates an atomized or semi-atomized spray of the fluid.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
placing the submersion tank on a support surface located beneath the nozzle located above the submersion tank.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
connecting a flexible hose between a fitting on a spray header and the fluid inlet to the submersion tank.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the submersion tank further includes a drain located on a corner of the submersion tank adjacent to the fluid inlet.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid sprayed from the nozzle located above the submersion tank pushes the additively manufactured part beneath a surface of the fluid in the submersion tank.