{
  "patent_number": "US 20240109245",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Precisely Control Solid-State 3D Printing for Stronger Materials",
  "original_title": "Process control systems and methods using a solid-state additive manufacturing system and continuous feeding systems and structures",
  "summary": "This patent describes a system for precisely controlling solid-state additive manufacturing, allowing real-time adjustments to create specific material structures without melting, using continuous material feeds.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a system for controlling solid-state additive manufacturing, a type of 3D printing that joins materials without melting them. The system uses a feeding mechanism to supply solid material (like wire, powder, or pellets, as in claims 25-30) to a tool. This tool then prints the material onto a workpiece while applying a downward force, causing the material to \"plasticly deform\" (claim 24). A controller monitors and adjusts process variables, such as the downward force (using measurements like interface temperature or tooling torque, claims 32-33) and filler flow rate (claim 31). This precise control allows the system to create specific internal structures, like honeycomb or sandwich patterns (claim 36), within the printed material. For example, an engineer could program the system to build a part with a specific internal strength by continuously adjusting the pressure and material flow based on real-time sensor data.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Additive manufacturing processes that involve melting the filler material (e.g., traditional FDM, laser powder bed fusion).",
    "Systems that do not continuously feed solid filler material to the tooling.",
    "Control systems that do not specifically adjust downward force based on a measured process variable from the tooling.",
    "Systems that do not aim to control the \"microstructure\" of the printed material.",
    "Additive manufacturing where the material is not \"plasticly deformed\" during printing."
  ],
  "filed": "2023-05-08",
  "granted": null,
  "expires": "2043-05-08",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Meld Manufacturing",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/meld-manufacturing",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Christopher Garguilo",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/christopher-garguilo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anita T. Broach",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/anita-t-broach"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chase Cox",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/chase-cox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Nanci Hardwick",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/nanci-hardwick"
    },
    {
      "name": "Frederic Lalande",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/frederic-lalande"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 9,
  "tags": [
    "manufacturing",
    "mechanical",
    "materials",
    "aerospace",
    "automotive",
    "energy"
  ],
  "abstract": "A process control system and a method for process control of a solid-state additive manufacturing system capable of performing various additive processes, such as joining, additive manufacturing, coating, repair and others, are disclosed. The process control system is capable of simultaneous measuring, monitoring and controlling multiple process variables, viz. material temperature, actuator down force, tool force (or torque), tool position, tool angular and transverse velocity, spindle torque (angular velocity), filler flow rate, filler composition, track width, inert gas flow rate and others. A feeding system for continuous supply of filler material to the solid-state additive manufacturing system is also disclosed. The filler material can be in a form of a powder, granules, briquettes, beads, flakes, wires, rods, films, scrap pieces, sheets, blocks or their combinations. Methods for generation of different periodic and non-periodic structures and joints using the process-controlled solid-state additive manufacturing system are also disclosed.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240109245/process-control-systems-and-methods-using-a-solid-state-additive-manufacturing-s",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240109245/process-control-systems-and-methods-using-a-solid-state-additive-manufacturing-s/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US20240109245",
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}