According to GlobalData’s company profile on Relativity Space, Smart factory systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Relativity Space's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

3d printing system with feedstock, support, and controller

A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230182228A1) describes a system for printing three-dimensional (3D) objects. The system includes a source of feedstock, a support for the object, a feeder to direct the feedstock, a power supply, and a controller. The controller receives a computational representation of the object and directs the feedstock towards the support. It then applies electrical current to the feedstock, heating it and causing it to melt and deposit adjacent to the support, effectively printing the object. The controller can also direct the deposition of additional portions of the object by introducing additional feedstock and subjecting it to heating.

The system includes a feeder with an opening to direct the feedstock towards the support. The heating process is designed to melt only the necessary portion of the feedstock. The controller can control the size of the object's portion by adjusting the speed of retraction of the feedstock. Mechanical actuators are also included to change the relative position of the feedstock and support after deposition.

The controller consists of computer memory and a 3D rendering module. The memory stores the computational representation of the object, and the rendering module extracts data corresponding to successive voxels or layers. The feedstock can be made of different metals, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.

The power supply is in electrical communication with the feedstock through the feeder and with the support. The heat required for the printing process arises from contact resistance between the feedstock and the object or support. A feedback control unit measures deposition parameters and characteristics, such as contact resistance, voltage, current, temperature, dimensions, and porosity. The controller can adjust the printing process based on this feedback.

The system also includes a sacrificial raft structure that anchors the object to the support and allows for its removal. The sacrificial raft structure can have a lower density or porosity than the object and can be made of different materials. After printing the object, the controller directs the removal of the sacrificial raft structure from the support and separates it from the object.

Overall, this patent describes a system for 3D printing that allows for precise control over the printing process and the ability to print objects with multiple feedstocks and complex geometries.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.