System and method of manufacture for spinal implant

1. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an enclosure including opposite front and back walls and opposite first and second side walls each extending from the front wall to the back wall, inner surfaces of the walls defining a chamber;

a build plate mounted with the enclosure, the build plate comprising opposite proximal and distal surfaces, the build plate defining a plurality of spaced apart openings each extending through the proximal and distal surfaces such that the openings are each in communication with the chamber, the openings each being configured for disposal of a screw shaft; and

a heating device coupled to the back wall and configured to heat a material applied to the screw shafts to fuse the material with the screw shafts,

wherein the build plate mounted with a platform of the enclosure defined by the front wall such that the build plate is movable relative to the enclosure in one or more directions, and

wherein the openings each define a female thread, the openings each including a proximal portion that extends through the proximal surface and a distal portion that extends through the distal surface, the proximal portions having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the distal portions, the diameters of the proximal and distal portions each being greater than a major diameter of the female threads.

2. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a coating arm, the coating arm including a blade that is configured to execute a displacement motion to sweep the material across the proximal surface.

3. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises a laser device, the laser device including an interactive laser and optics system that produces a laser beam.

4. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the build plate is non-conductive.

5. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber; and

a build plate mounted with the enclosure, the build plate comprising opposite proximal and distal surfaces, the build plate defining a plurality of spaced apart openings each extending through the proximal and distal surfaces such that the openings are each in communication with the chamber, the openings each being configured for disposal of a screw shaft, the openings each defining a female thread, the openings each including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions having a first diameter and the distal portions having a second diameter, the first and second diameters each being greater than a major diameter of the female threads.

6. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the first diameters are greater than the second diameters.

7. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the proximal portions extend through the proximal surface and the distal portions extend through the distal surface.

8. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the build plate is mounted with the enclosure such that the build plate is movable relative to the enclosure in at least one direction.

9. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the at least one direction includes a plurality of directions.

10. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the enclosure includes opposite front and back walls and opposite first and second side walls each extending from the front wall to the back wall, inner surfaces of the walls defining the chamber.

11. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a heating device coupled to the enclosure and configured to heat a material applied to the screw shafts to fuse the material with the screw shafts.

12. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the heating device comprises a laser device, the laser device including an interactive laser and optics system that produces a laser beam.

13. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a coating arm, the coating arm including a blade that is configured to execute a displacement motion to sweep the material across the proximal surface.

14. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the build plate is non-conductive.

15. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an enclosure defining a chamber; and

a non-conductive build plate mounted with the enclosure, the build plate defining a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough such that the openings are each in communication with the chamber, the openings each defining a female thread, the openings each including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions having a first diameter and the distal portions having a second diameter, the first and second diameters each being greater than a major diameter of the female threads.

16. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first diameters are greater than the second diameters.

17. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein the build plate is mounted with the enclosure such that the build plate is movable relative to the enclosure in at least one direction.

18. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 17 , wherein the at least one direction includes a plurality of directions.

19. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a heating device coupled to the enclosure and configured to heat a material that can be applied to screw shafts positioned in the openings to fuse the material with the screw shafts.

20. An additive manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 19 , wherein the heating device comprises a laser device, the laser device including an interactive laser and optics system that produces a laser beam.