# How to Improve 3D Printing Using Cold Spray Metal Deposition > A method for perfecting metal 3D printing by analyzing how spray angles affect material quality and adjusting the printer's path to fix errors. - **Patent:** US 12233456 - **Original title:** Method for cold spray additive manufacturing - **Owner:** Individual - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing ## What it does This patent describes a way to make 3D-printed metal parts more precise using cold spray technology. Instead of melting metal, cold spray uses high-speed gas to blast metal powder onto a surface. The inventors created a system that first prints a single test line to see how the spray angle affects the shape and internal defects of the metal. By measuring this test line, the system builds a mathematical model that predicts how the metal will build up. It then automatically adjusts the nozzle's path to ensure the final part matches the desired shape and has fewer structural flaws. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover traditional laser-based additive manufacturing (like SLM or DMLS). - Does not cover deposition methods that rely on melting the material. - Does not cover systems that lack the step of generating a predictive model from a single-line test pass. - Does not cover manual path adjustment without the specific geometric and defect modeling described. ## The clever bit The system treats the spray nozzle's impact angle as a variable in a predictive model, allowing the software to compensate for the uneven 'plume' of particles that naturally occurs during spraying. ## Real-world examples 1. Repairing worn-out aircraft engine components 2. Additive manufacturing of large-scale structural metal parts 3. Applying protective metal coatings to industrial machinery ## Why it matters Cold spray is increasingly used for repairing expensive aerospace parts or creating high-strength components. Because cold spray is a physical impact process rather than a thermal one, it is hard to predict how layers will stack. This patent provides a systematic way to calibrate these machines, which is essential for industrial adoption where part failure is not an option. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How to Improve 3D Printing Using Cold Spray Metal Deposition cover? A method for perfecting metal 3D printing by analyzing how spray angles affect material quality and adjusting the printer's path to fix errors. ### Who owns patent US 12233456? Individual owns this patent, granted in 2025. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on February 25, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Cold spray is increasingly used for repairing expensive aerospace parts or creating high-strength components. Because cold spray is a physical impact process rather than a thermal one, it is hard to predict how layers will stack. This patent provides a systematic way to calibrate these machines, which is essential for industrial adoption where part failure is not an option. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover traditional laser-based additive manufacturing (like SLM or DMLS). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12233456/mars-colonial-transporter-architecture **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12233456 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Machines Build 3D Objects Layer by Layer from Melting Plastic](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5121329/fdm-3d-printing-stratasys) — This patent describes a method and machine for creating three-dimensional objects by precisely depositing melted material, layer by layer, from a movable nozzle onto a base. - [How Boeing 3D Prints Strong Lightweight Spacecraft Panels](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11794927/starship-life-support-system) — A method for printing a single-piece, high-strength spacecraft panel using 3D printing to create complex internal trusses that eliminate the need for bolts or welds. - [How Jet Engines Use Heat to Automatically Adjust Airflow](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11814186/starship-lunar-lander-hls) — A GE patent for a jet engine component that changes shape based on temperature to automatically control how much cooling air flows into the engine core. - [How to Draw 3D Shapes on Touchscreens Using Your Fingers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9182882/dynamic-creation-and-modeling-of-solid-models) — A method for creating 3D objects in design software by simply dragging your finger across a touchscreen, allowing the shape to grow in real-time as you move. - [How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4575330/stereolithography-3d-printing) — This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.