- Houston TX, US Luke Alan Boyer - Houston TX, US Christoph Wangenheim - Hemmingen, DE James Andy Oxford - Magnolia TX, US Sobieslaw Gacek - Kingwood TX, US
International Classification:
B29C 67/00 B29C 35/02
Abstract:
In some embodiments, systems for creating and heat-treating 3D-printed objects may include a 3D printer configured to create the object. A heat-treatment apparatus may be operatively connected to the 3D printer. The heat-treatment apparatus may be configured to expose the object to an elevated temperature to heat-treat the object. A pressure-transmission medium of the heat-treatment apparatus may be configured to apply pressure to the object during heat treatment. The 3D printer and heat-treatment apparatus may be incorporated into a unified process flow volume. Methods of creating and heat-treating 3D-printed objects may involve creating an object utilizing a 3D printer. The object may be moved from the 3D printer to a heat-treatment apparatus. The object may be exposed to an elevated temperature and pressure may be applied to the object utilizing a pressure-transmission medium of the heat-treatment apparatus. The 3D printer and heat-treatment apparatus may in a unified process flow volume.