Method and Apparatus for in Situ Debinding and Sintering of Filament or Paste Extrusion Additive Manufactured Metal or Ceramic Parts

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This invention presents a method and apparatus for 3D printing metal or ceramic parts via filament or paste extrusion, with integrated local debinding and sintering. Unlike traditional systems that require moving the printed 'green' part to a separate furnace, this system performs all steps—the material extrusion, binder removal (debinding), and sintering—in one compact, automated machine. It uses localized heaters such as lasers, infrared lamps, or induction/microwave sources, and includes a monitoring system for process control and defect detection, enabling production of dense, high-quality, multi-material parts.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacturing custom metal or ceramic components for aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries directly from digital designs.
• On-site production of spare parts or complex geometries in industrial factories or remote locations, reducing the need for inventory.
• Prototyping and small-batch production of high-performance metal or ceramic parts without access to large and expensive sintering equipment.
• Educational and research settings for rapid experimentation with advanced materials and part properties.
• Jewelry and luxury goods manufacturing using precious metal or ceramic powders in complex or bespoke designs.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• All-in-one process: eliminates need for separate debinding and sintering equipment, reducing footprint, cost, and handling complexity.
• Enables precise, layer-by-layer debinding and sintering, resulting in denser and less defective parts.
• Supports multi-material printing (e.g., combining metal and ceramic), previously difficult due to differing processing needs.
• Real-time monitoring and control improve product quality and process automation; reduces manual intervention and human error.
• Local heating reduces energy consumption and production times compared to heating entire build parts or build chambers.
• Suitable for both single material and multi-material components, expanding possible applications.
• Enhanced safety and environmental control, as parts remain within a closed system throughout processing.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus to locally debind and sinter three dimensional dense objects produced by additive manufacturing. The apparatus, therefore, comprises a build platform, at least one heater, an extruder, a monitoring unit and a control unit. In this regard, the extruder is configured to eject building material in layers onto the build platform to form a build part. The heater is configured to heat the build part locally and the monitoring unit is configured to capture data relating the build part. In addition, the control unit is configured to control the extruder and the heater such that a defined ejection point can be driven by the extruder and a defined heating zone and/or heating point can be targeted by the heater.