ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF METAL OBJECTS VIA ELECTRODEPOSITION
A three-dimensional printer, system, and method for electrodeposition. The three-dimensional printer and system include a deposition anode, a build plate, wherein at least one of the deposition anode and build plate are moveable relative to the other in at least two axes, and a power supply electrically connected to the deposition anode and the build plate. The method includes forming ions of a feedstock in an electrolyte solution, providing an E-field, and transporting the ions in an E-field to a build plate to form a three-dimensional component.
1 . A three-dimensional printer for electrodeposition, comprising:
a deposition anode, wherein the deposition anode is a feedstock;
a build plate immersed in an electrolyte solution, wherein at least one of the deposition anode and build plate are moveable relative to the other in at least two axes;
a mounting tray;
a vessel positioned on the mounting tray, wherein the vessel contains the build plate;
a print head including a wire feed for feeding the feedstock, the print head movable in a first axis and a second axis and the mounting tray moveable in a third axis; and
a power supply electrically connected to the deposition anode and the build plate.
2 - 4 . (canceled)
5 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 1 , further comprising a deposition tube included in the print head through which the feedstock passes.
6 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 5 , wherein the deposition tube and the build plate are separated by a gap.
7 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 5 , wherein the deposition tube is conductive.
8 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 5 , further comprising a seal between the deposition tube and the feedstock.
9 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 8 , further comprising a reservoir connected to the deposition tube.
10 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 5 , further comprising a conductive ring at the base of the deposition tube.
11 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 , further comprising an insulator positioned between the conductive ring and the deposition tube.
12 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 5 , further comprising a sensor mounted to the deposition tube, configured to obtain data regarding one or more of the following: the height of the feedstock within the deposition tube, the height of the deposition tube relative to the build plate, and detection of a characteristic of the feedstock.
13 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir connected to the vessel by an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path.
14 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 13 , further comprising a pump connected to the outlet flow path.
15 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 13 , further comprising a heater immersed in the reservoir.
16 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 13 , wherein the deposition anode is non-sacrificial.
17 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 16 , further comprising a secondary anode positioned in the reservoir and a secondary cathode positioned in the reservoir, wherein the secondary anode provides a feedstock.
18 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic stirrer positioned beneath the build plate.
19 - 20 . (canceled)