Additive printing method

Abstract

A manufacturing method which manufactures articles which have hollow areas inside them which are subject to their own internal vacuum. A 3-D printer can be located inside a vacuum chamber and the article(s) can be 3-D printed, thereby the hollow area inside each such article is subject to its own vacuum. When removed from the vacuum chamber, the article's hollow area remains subject to its own internal vacuum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 providing a 3-D printer in a vacuum chamber;   causing a vacuum state to be formed inside the vacuum chamber;   causing the 3-D printer to print an article while the vacuum state is maintained inside the vacuum chamber; and   removing the article.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the article is a bayonet shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the article is a dewar shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the article is a sphere-shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a plurality of hollow objects adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the hollow objects are hollow spheres. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the article is 3-D printed using stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the article is 3-D printed using phenol plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 providing a 3-D printer in a vacuum chamber;   causing the 3-D printer to print an article on the 3-D printer which is complete but for a hole on the article;   causing a vacuum state to be formed inside the vacuum chamber; and   causing the 3-D printer to fill in the hole in the article.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising removing the article from the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the article is a bayonet shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the article is a dewar shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the article is a sphere-shaped enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . A method of printing an object, comprising:
 providing a 3-D printer in a vacuum chamber;   causing the 3-D printer to print a first layer of the object comprising a plurality of first hollow objects with a plurality of respective first holes, each of the first holes being located in a respective first hollow object;   causing a vacuum state to be formed inside the vacuum chamber;   causing the 3-D printer to fill in the plurality of first holes;   deactivating the vacuum state inside the vacuum chamber;   causing the 3-D printer to print a second layer of the object comprising a plurality of second hollow objects with a plurality of respective second holes, each of the second holes being located in a respective second hollow object, the second layer being adjacent and attached to the first layer;   causing a vacuum state to be formed inside the vacuum chamber; and   causing the 3-D printer to fill in the plurality of second holes.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising removing the object from the vacuum chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first hollow objects and the second hollow objects are spheres. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing a printing sequence comprising:
 A) causing the 3-D printer to print a further layer of the object comprising a plurality of hollow objects with a plurality of respective holes, each of the holes being located in a respective hollow object, the further layer being attached to a previously printed layer; 
 B) causing a vacuum state to be formed inside the vacuum chamber; 
 C) causing the 3-D printer to fill in the plurality of holes; 
 D) deactivating the vacuum state inside the vacuum chamber; 
   repeating the printing sequence N times, wherein N is greater than 1.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein N is greater than 10. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein N is greater than 50. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising removing the object from the vacuum chamber.