MXPA98001395A - Article of free form for deposit in ca - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the precise formation of a three-dimensional article of free form without the use of a mold of a three-dimensional article, the mold comprises: providing a supply of small droplets of substantially uniform size of a desired metal material , each small drop has a positive or negative charge, aligning each small drop in the supply of small droplets in a substantially narrow stream, the small droplets are aligned allowing the small droplets to pass adjacent through at least one alignment device that has the same charge as the small droplets, where the alignment device rejects each of the small droplets towards an axis extending through the alignment device, depositing each of the small droplets aligned in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined speed over a white or a layer of recent formation of the three-dimensional article l to form the three-dimensional article, provide a supply of a support material in a predetermined pattern adjacent to the small droplets deposited for each layer, and then provide an additional supply of small droplets of the desired metal material in the support material where the support material allows said additional deposit of the small drops of the desired metal material to form at least a portion of the three-dimensional article, and to remove the support material to form the three-dimensional article

Description

FIELD-FREE ARTICLE BY LAYER DEPOSIT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generaly to a method and apparatus for depositing a molten metal in a forming process by apa in a target with, for example, a * working platform or a substrate to form a three-dimensional object 1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Several method * have been proposed. to form * r l í -. Three-dimensional systems by depositing layers of material on a substrate. This layered production? coi.o -.- e also as solid free form manufacturing or rapid prototyping. A computer model of a desired object is divided into slices into a limited set of layers. The layers are created sequentially, or they are joined on a previously formed layer. E --- > The placement of layers creates an object that approaches the predicted geometry of the three-dimensional object l, as the layers cause a "stair effect", on the edge or on the peripheral SA of an object. The staircase effect is the result of the process of applying the discrete layers of the material. The fi lled appearance of the object can be improved by minimizing the thickness of the hole or by employing additional processing steps such as the application of sand jets and simulants that polish the surface of the object. E tereol i tiography is a method for forming a three-dimensional psi-meric arcicle made from a polymeric material. Stereo! Togeology, a photopolymer is selectively cured using a laser beam to make each layer. The training article is constructed on a lifting platform in a tank containing the liquid photo-polymer. Successive layers are created by lowering the partially created objects in the photopolymer liquid and laser curing a new layer of photopolymer material on the surface of the partially constructed object. Another method comprises a melt-deposition modeling process that melts and erases a polymeric substance through a nozzle on a white formal leg or the size object. Another method involves a lamination wherein layers of a paper or polymer material are cut and bonded onto the substrate, then the edges or periphery are trimmed with a laser to correspond to a desired layer or to a desired cross section through the article. The unwanted or waste areas of each layer are cut into a grid. These "frames" are stacked to form square prisms, truncated by the object's boundary. The areas of "pictures" are physically removed after finishing - • ?! product, leaving only the desired part.

Another method employs a lamination process in which papers or other mask type materials are used to build layers of material. A laser beam cuts the geometry of layers on the paper that is used as a mask. The material is deposited in the cut-out area that defines a single layer of the article and the parts of the material • =, & . '' Palm in the mask material. In the past, it has been difficult to form three-dimensional articles, made of metal by means of a free-form manufacturing process or a layer deposit. A metal fabrication method involves a sintering process, which applies a layer of a metal powder material onto the upper part of partial objects and then synthesizes it (using lightning). laser) the portion comprising the new layer. Another method of metal fabrication involves a post-sintering process where metal powder materials are bonded together with a polymer binding material. However, it is difficult to completely remove the polymer binding material from the finished typical object. The presence of binder residues subtracts a. 1 metallic object part of its desired strength as well as other properties. Adem ---, the removal of the polymer material causes voids in the three-dimensional object in such a way that the object is relatively porous. Another metallic material (such as a metal of a lower temperature) can infiltrate the three-dimensional porous object with temperature differentiation, in an attempt to fill the spaces. However, the idimensional object then has a composite structure of the "honeycomb" type with less than desirable propagations and is subject to progressive deformation or warping during the synthesis of the original host material. In addition, the presence of residual polymer and / or filler material act as contaminants within the typical object and consequently affect the properties of the object. Contaminants may include o-iodide products, and; < ceases carbon, binder residue and the like. It will be understood that the use of fiber elements or fillers in the infiltration process is different from the use of alloy materials. In the case of infiltration, the two materials remain different; on the contrary, in an alloy, the materials are homogenously mixed together to achieve a desirable combination of properties. Another concern is that when the infiltrated material imperfectly bonds with the matrix material, the microstructure has a very large number of voltage concentrators, thus reducing the strength of the object. While such "infiltrated" idiosyncratic objects are sometimes called "fully dense" objects, such a term is a misleading description of the real characteristics of the dimensional object since the three-dimensional object does not consist of sub an anually preferred metal type. . Other manufacturing methods employ metal deposition techniques in combination with a metal removal technique such as grinding, grinding, sand-sanding and the like. The effect of "ladder" and the rubosidad in the edge caita rapa are eliminated by machining each < apa and its peripheries after the deposit of the cane. It is the process of machining or removal of metal that determines the real dimensional accuracy of the three-dimensional object. Currently there are several methods and devices for depositing material in fusion. For example, the North American Patent of Mertz et al. No. 5,281,789 discloses a welding process and an apparatus for depositing the molten metal. A molten metal is deposited on a working surface and subsequent layers of metal are deposited there. An electrode and a welding torch can preferably be displaced as a unit such that the melting metal can be deposited at selected locations on the working surface. Alternately, the work surface can be displaced while the welding torch and the collecting electrode are displaced or maintained by ionaries to selectively position the deposited material on the work surface. The size of the small drop is controlled by applying additional mechanical energy to the feed wire so that the feed metal vibrates constantly. U.S. Patent No. 5,286,573 to Ppnz et al discloses a method that employs support structure for the creation of objects by means of a layer deposition process. In the deposit process, each layer is made up of two portions. A portion represents a transverse slice of a dimensional object that is being constructed ("the object") and consists of the ead material or deposit materials). The other portion is the complement of the shape of the object of the first portion and serves as a supporting structure that supports the shape of the growing object ("the support"). The object material and support structure material are each applied in a predetermined sequence. Numerous layers are thus formed, each placed on the previous layer. From this f r'ma, a layer structure is elaborated. The layer structure contains the elaborated object of the position material surrounded by the support material. For each layer, both the support material and the object material, either the support material or the object material, or neither the support material nor the object material can be formed to produce its desired object. Preferably, the formation occurs after the application of the object material or support material and before the application of the subsequent layer. The patent document Ho. 5,301,863 of Ppnz et al describes an automated system that has numerous work stations to form or machines by increasing the accumulation of layers. Each catch is a transverse slice of a three-dimensional object that is being constructed and consists of the desired object material. In addition to the object materialEach layer also habitually contains a second portion which acts as a compliment to the shape of the object of the deposit material portion and serves as a support structure for the shape of the growing object. During the manufacture of the article, several operations are carried out on the piece, for each layer. In addition to the material depot station, several process stations are used, each of which has at least one separate function. These functions may include any combination of application of shot blasting, cleaning, sand blasting, heat treatment, forming, inspection, mask making and packaging. U.S. Patent No. 5,301,415 to Ppnz et al discloses a method for the manufacture of durable articles by the incremental accumulation of material of material layers. In one embodiment, a layer of object material and support material is applied. Depending on the shape of the object, one or the other material is applied first, then it is formed until dimensional accuracy is achieved, and then the other material is deposited. The deposited layer is then machined, cleaned, shot blasting and the like are applied to it. The process is repeated until all the layers are in place. After the application of the final layer, the complementary material i is removed or leaving the object formed in the deposit material. The patent? US No. 5,398,193 to deAngelis discloses a method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object through the deposition layer by layer controlled and / or extraction. A three-dimensional computer model representation of the three-dimensional part is provided and the representation sliced into several successive layers corresponding to the predetermined thickness layers of the part. The computerized model generates sequences of the part and any contour of complementary support material that corresponds to each capia. Materials for one or more contours are deposited on a work surface within a processing enclosure. They remove portions of the material to chirp the contours. The steps of processing by deposit and removal are repeated as necessary under the control of the computer model and trust in completing the three-dimensional object. Additional processing includes the removal by machining of a sublayer to ensure thickness tolerances or hardening and chemical increase of the surface to ensure selective adhesion of the next layer of aggregate. to build the whole part surrounded by complementary materials that are then removed to obtain a fabricated part.A major disadvantage of the above methods is that it is based on a machining portion of these methods to achieve the desired dimensional precision of the three-dimensional object. In many situations, the objects that are being formed require a number of vague steps after fabrication to produce an acceptable ridiculous object or final product.It requires an improved method to create solid or three-dimensional objects that fill a precise deposit of material over a work surface or substrate, however, until In the present invention, there has been no presentation or suggestion that a supply of small droplets could be accurately controlled and supplied to form a solid or three dimensional high quality article in a net form without the use of a manifold or mold. A method for fusing small droplets of substantial size to the uniform mind is presented in US Patent No. 5,266,098 to Chun et al which describes a process and apparatus for producing and holding small droplets of metal in size. uniform. The small droplets are deposited as ro para to cover a substrate. A small droplet generator is placed inside a dew chamber. The small droplet generator consists of a container to contain and liquefy a metal charge, a device to form small metal droplets of uniform size, and a device to load the small metal droplets as small droplets form. The ion-shaped device is preferably a vibration device for vibrating the molten metal in the container (or at least one jet of oscillating gas placed outside the container at the point at which the liquefied metal leaves the container). . The liquefied metal is pushed from the crucible through a hole in the container to form the small metal droplets. As the liquefied metal leaves at least one hole in the form of a jet or flow, the vibrations imposed on the liquefied metal cause the jet to break into small metal droplets of uniform size. An electric charge s & Apply on the small drops as the small drops form. The small drops of metal can be charged either by charging the liquefied metal while it is in the container or by caryando the small drops as the small drops are formed or after its ion form after leaving the crucible. As each small droplet breaks from the jet or flow, the small droplet retains a portion of the charge. With this charge, the small drops are rejected between them in the duel and disperse in the form of a cone. On the other hand, the small drops fall to a substrate. -when the small droplets of uniform size are charged, the small droplets are oriented to form a cone confi uration due to the same polarity of the droplet drops and the rejection of each small droplet in relation to the small neighboring droplet. . The Chun et al '098 patent also reads the application of an electric field in the flow path of the small metal droplets to change their trajectories. A thesis presented by C.H. Passo «»? The Department of Mechanical Engineep of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on May 5, 1992, describes a dew formation study stacking dewdrops of uniform small droplets, production techniques of placing small droplets, and selection of small droplets and deviation where parallel plates are placed under the loading plate to deflect the small charged droplets off the side where they would be collected. The little unloaded drops can pass unimpeded.

An article written by P.J. Acquaviva et al. entitled Issues ín Application of Thermo Spra ing to Melt Mold Fabrication (published in IBEC International, 1994), describes a process of rubbing and depositing uniform droplets that can be manipulated by movement of a substrate at several direct velocities. A thesis presented by Bodard Karl Abel to the Department of Mechanical Engineep of MIT on May 18, 1994, describes the use of a dew formation process of small uniform yaws to form deposits on substrates. stationary and mobile; the formation by spray of dimensional parts; and, instead of allowing the small droplets to randomly disperse on the basis of an unknown disorder, the small droplets can be charged differently and after being shipped to create a more predictable mass flow distribution. The North American Patent Nos. 5,171,360; 5,226,948; 5,259,593; and 5,340,090 to Or et al. describe methods and apparatus for forming a product in a neat manner by directing a stream of a liquid material over a manifold and the shape of the desired product. A variable disorder is applied with time to flow to produce a stream of small liquid droplets where the small droplets hit the collector and solidify into a unitary form. The 1995 Orme et al document presented to BFF in Austin, Texas, describes thermal design parameters for the development of solid free-form manufacturing of structural materials with controlled small droplets. Due to the need for a better and more efficient method for the manufacture and formation of three-dimensional solid objects, and as a result of extensive research, a new method for the creation of a solid three-dimensional object by depositing a metal has been developed. melted. As far as is known, there is no presentation according to which a solid, dimensional object could be formed by supplying small metal droplets of uniform size, preferably in layers, with high precision. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to develop an apparatus and process for manufacturing high quality solid metal objects. The present invention further provides a process that does not involve the use of multiple processing steps to form each deposit layer, or otherwise achieve the dimensional accuracy of the three-dimensional solid object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a high precision method and apparatus for increasingly overlapping small, metal droplets of uniform size of a desired material (or materials) on a target or platform to form? n solid three-dimensional object. Objects are created quickly and directly by controlled deposition of small droplets. The deposit of small droplets in layers is controlled by the use of computer-based geometry models. The solid object is elaborated in an increasing way using layers created from small droplets of uniform size. It is the control and the application of the small 5 indiidual drops that provide the solid object with its desired characteristics. The method and apparatus of the present invention provides a "fully dense" dimensional solid object formed of metal or of a desirable alloy material. In addition, the three-dimensional solid article has a uniform density and substantially no voids and is not porous. No infiltration or infiltration processes are required to form the fully dense article of the present invention. The solid object formed using the present invention has a homogeneous microstructure. Ad m? Ñ, the article of l a. present invention is substantially contaminated by such a way that the formed article has physically desirable termites. The article made in accordance with the present invention possesses desirable characteristics and physical properties that are substantially better than the properties found in articles formed by conventional casting processes., spray or molding. The ridged Sioide object has dimensional tolerances, tensile strength, fa iga and compression, du tity, hardness, and face properties and desirable wear resistance properties. The solid object has a uniform or uniform homogeneous isotropic content of the material in the structure of the typical article, the present invention can be used internally easily in a very cheap and economical way to produce tools or metal products for the requirements of the client's production. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention may be constituted of "table" size for use in applications where there is limited space availability with, for example, submarines or offshore drilling platforms. In addition, it is possible to quickly produce a desired three-dimensional solid object in such a way that the customer does not have to have inventories that require an expensive space. In preferred embodiments, the objects are created by employing a uniform droplet formation process as described in the North American Patent of Chun et al. No. 5,226,098 where the deposit material is supplied in a metal feed system having a heater to melt the metal. The melted metal is in a small droplet forming device such as a crucible having at least one hole that allows the melted metal to pass through. In a preferred embodiment, the orifice has a diameter within a range of approximately 50 to 500 microns. The melted material is subject to a pressure differential of approx. imadamente 3515.5 l-g / m2 at 35155 l-g / m2 which pushes the melted material through the hole in the form of a current. The melted metal is subjected to a certain frequency and / or amplitude in such a way that free liquefied metal. The vibration and surface tension of the metal causes the controlled breaking of the molten metal stream into small droplets of uniform size when the melted material leaves the hole. As the small droplets form, the small droplets are subjected to a charge pos i t i v, or negative. The similar charge in the small individual droplets keeps the small droplets separate and prevents the small droplets from sticking together in their release with small neighboring or adjacent droplets, and therefore allows the small droplets to maintain their uniform size. The present invention is an improvement in relation to the technology presented in the Chun et al patent. '098 where the similar charge in the small droplets causes the small droplets to spread out and become dewy in the form of dew. The present invention provides a method for focusing the small droplets or aligning them. small drops in a narrow stream or in a single row after its shape »: i n instead of allowing the small drops to be scattered in a rust. The present invention also allows the small droplets to be vertically joined together, thus maintaining a size consistency. In accordance with the present invention, the supply of small droplets is aligned or focused on a substantial flow or narrow line or a line by passing the supply of small charged droplets adjacent to an alignment device or through said device. The alignment device adds an additional force field (electric force) that carries the same load as the small drops. The alignment device rejects the small droplets substantially uniformly inward toward an axis extending through the alignment device. The rejection of the small drops inwards forces the small drops to form in a thin stream. Rejecting the small drops during the trajectory of the small drops, the small drops remain focused in a single row current or a single thin line of small drops. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention comprises, in part, a method to align the small drops. In vain modalities, the small droplets can be aligned either by maintaining, reducing, or reducing the flow of the small droplets as the small droplets are supplied and deposited in a blank or in a partially formed dimensional article. In a preferred embodiment, the alignment device comprises at least one hollow rejection cylinder S? whether metric or in a frusto-cochlear rejection device that is piosed adjacent or close to the target or to the partially formed article. An axis that is understood through the alignment device is aligned with the nominal trajectory of the stream of small droplets. The current that emerges from molded material has an electric charge of the same polarity as every small drop. In a preferred embodiment, as the jet stream is broken into small droplets, one cgram is supplied to each small droplet. When the charging device remains at a predetermined tension in relation to the jet stream, the combination of the voltage and the capacitance between the charging device and the jet stream carries a charge to the current advance point of the jet stream. jet. Each small drop retains a cgga that had the small drop before freeing itself from the jet stream, the cgga in the small drop causes each small drop to reject the small adjacent drops which prevents the small drops from coming together. In accordance with the present invention, the small charged droplets are maintained in a narrow line or predetermined path by the aligning device. In preferred embodiments, the alignment device maintains the load, applies an additional load to the small droplets descending, or reduces the load on the small droplets descending. The similar charge applied to the small droplet drops keeps the small droplets away from the alignment device and also away from each small adjacent droplet. Accordingly, when the load on the alignment device is sufficiently large, the small drops will be at a uniform distance from each other in the stream and will tend to cluster around an ee extending through the alignment device. The small droplets are maintained in a substantially narrow stream as small droplets pass through the alignment device or adjacent to the alignment device. It should be understood that in such embodiments the alignment device may comprise an additive d l to reduce the charge on the small droplets by supplying, for example, a stream of small positively charged droplets a flow of electrons which reduces the charge in the small drops. In a preferred embodiment, the small droplets are delivered to the target in a closed system such that there is less risk of contamination such as, for example, oxidation on the surface of the small droplets and consequently within the droplets. captures of deposited materials. In a preferred embodiment, the air in the work area is replaced by an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. When heavy inert phases are used, for example argon, the inert gases are preferably introduced into a lower end of the closed working space. Heavy inert gases after they lasso the lightest ire that can be found in the upper part of the enclosed work space. In another preferred embodiment, the air in the working space is replaced by a lighter inert gas such as nitrogen. It will be understood, however, that the amount of inert gas depends on the type of metal that is being deposited. It is further understood that, in the case of aluminum deposition, it is preferable not to use nitrogen since nitrogen and aluminum react. It is further understood that in various embodiments the differences in density between the inert gas and the ambient air can be accentuated, for example, by cooling the argon and heating the nitrogen. In a preferred embodiment, the work space is maintained under positive pressure in such a way that any leakage is carried out and that no ambient air escapes in the enclosed work space. Many containment devices to enclose the work space include a flexible coating; For example, said coating can be made of a suitable material such as for example polyvinyl chloride and the like, which is mounted on a metal structure. Another device for enclosing the workspace includes a rigid transparent plastic box made of suitable material. These containment devices can replace the large, vacuum chambers now in use in such a way that the apparatus of the present invention can be employed in a table design. A vacuum chamber can, however, be used to obtain purity levels of desired small droplets and properties of desired three-dimensional parts. In a preferred embodiment, the work environment has an inert atmosphere. It should be understood that a controlled gas subject can be used to push the melt material from the crucible containing the melt material at high pressures of approximately 1062! < g / m2 at 35155 .g / m2 (approximately 140-35 kPa). An additional contoured gas system provides a source of pressure at approximately 703.1 μg / m2 to 1406.2 μg / m2 to the working environment. It will be understood that these pressures are manometric pressures, that is, they are higher than the atmospheric pressure, they are not absolute pressures, and they are shown only to facilitate the illustration of the present invention. In operation, if it is considered necessary, the work environment can be purged and eliminated by the introduction of an inert gas to limit oxygen levels. It will be understood that levels of o; The minimum adequate levels are determined by the measurement of the properties of the final products exposed to different levels of contamination. The fine stream or line of small droplets is accurately punched into a target or work station to form the three-dimensional article. It will be understood that in accordance with the method of the present invention, either the supply of the stream of small droplets and / or the target can be displaced to form the three-dimensional article. In one mode, the target can be moved over a predetermined distance in response to the application of the line of small drops on the target. For example, the target can be displaced directly or discharged at a network speed that depends, at least reliably, on the rate of deposit of small droplets. In certain preferred embodiments, the deposit velocity of small droplets can be monitored by a counting / counting system. The three-dimensional article formed in the work station connects opera 1 va-r-nte to a system of posi c iona i ento. In a preferred embodiment, the pasicianamier-ta system comprises a table of at least 2-3 e is, and in some embodiments, a table of 3 to 5 axes, impellers for the axes, coding device for receiving and transmitting position data, and a control system for eoordenar movement along the axes. The control device may comprise a computer representation of the geometry of the object that supplies the coordinates and a device for interpreting the movement of the work station. In an alternative embodiment, the formation device / sumi ni -str of small droplets may also be operatively connected to a different positioning device that displaces the supply of small droplets at positions between at least the X, Y and Z axes in response to a predetermined pattern. In another mode, both the work station and the supply of small drops can - = > er moved to form the three-dimensional article. In a preferred embodiment, a planning system, such as a suitable software program, accepts a solid model representation of the ridimension object. The planning system divides the geometry of the object into a finite number of slices and graphs the deposit trajectory required to achieve each layer, instituting requirements of hanging supports (as described in more detail with inuit). of the article in its entirety. The >system; -control coordinates the planning system, the motion of the device to form: the supply of small drops, and the positioning system of the work station. The control system (s) monitors (also) all the census entries for the information on the various parameters of operating ion and maintains parameters d-r-c > perac :? are correct with, for example, pressures, temperature, voltages and the like. In accordance with the present invention, parameters (such as pressure, orifice diameter, frequency and amplitude of small droplet vibrations) can be changed to change the diameter of small droplets of uniform size. It will also be understood that the optimum diameter of the small droplets depends, in part, on the tri-impression articles being formed and the type of material being deposited. Other parameters, such as, for example, velocity of metal ion feed in the crucible, pressure of »> - psol, temperature and amount of charge in the small droplets also affect the size and speed of formation of small droplets of uniform size. Other parameters include the temperature of the target or article being formed and the state of the small droplets - when the small droplets are deposited on the target or article being formed. The temperature of the small droplets and / or white and the rate of fall in the target determine, in part, the binding or fusion of the small droplets in a uniform layer on the bl anco material. In certain embodiments of the present invention, another parameter that can be waived is the "spacing" distance between the yolas piecing device and the work station. This change in distance affects both the size of the impact area of the small drops and the proportion between liquid and solid of the small drops. By varying the ratio between liquid and solid, the bonding qualities of the small droplets on the substrate can be changed. It will be understood that the temperature of the deposit material itself affects the thermal state of the small drops. In some embodiments, the temperature of the reservoir material may vary from a temperature just above the melting point, and in other embodiments said temperature may be, for example, approximately 5 [deg.] C. above the melting point. This difference in temperature of the liquid reservoir material will obviously affect the temperature of the small droplets in relegation to the distance from the orifice to the target (ie, the distance of "separation"). The small drop is supplied in a p > optimal liquid and solid opporcion or apiro: - ideally optimal. In several modalities, the ratio between solid and liquid of the small drop when the small drop to the Illanco is an important variable. The pact of the small drop on the white converts the kinetic energy of the small drop offspring into thermal energy. This heat fuses again the small drop and the white at the point of impact of the small drop. This new fusion helps the process of the small drops on the newly formed surface. In order to achieve geometric accuracy, the present invention accurately aligns and focuses the stream of small droplets and carefully correlates the speed or direction of movement of the target in relation to the placement of the flow of small droplets and the velocity of flow and temperature of the stream of small drops. The comment á & Small drop? - It is controlled for efficiency and precision. In a preferred embodiment, a suitable flow measurement system is installed, for example, a computer vision system connected operatively to a light source that is robotic and reliable, estimating the flow velocity of the metal by counting the number. of small drops that pass in a frame in a given empio. The positioning system moves the target according to the geometry of the section or layer of the three-dimensional article or support that is being created. The speed of movement of the target along a predefined path is governed by the flow velocity of the deposit matepal, in accordance with the measure of reference by a flow measurement system. The number of layers and the positioning of the layers forming the article of cake size is determined by numerous factors. The geometry of the object dictates some points through which a layer must pass; therefore, a minimum number of layers is required in order to form the dimensional article. It will be understood that in various embodiments in which a support material is provided, the support material is also placed adjacent to the partially manufactured article. Another factor that affects the geometry of the object is the maximum thickness of each layer. It will be understood that each layer should not be thicker than this portion of the article being formed. It will also be understood that the functional requirements of the final use of the three-dimensional article dictate the surface finish of the three-dimensional article. Therefore, the requirement for a smooth surface finish or a textured finish may also limit the size of the cap. It will be understood, however, that the present invention provides a method for depositing small droplets having a diameter of about 50 millimeters in such a manner that the formed sensed article has a desirable surface for most commonly used applications. final. It will further be understood that, at the edges or periphery of the article, any ladder effect depends not only on the diameter of the small droplets and consequently on the thickness of the cap, but also on the expansion diameter of the small drop when the small drop enters contact with the surface. In most embodiments, the surface finish of the edges or periphery of the article being formed has a highly acceptable surface finish with a minimum ladder effect suitable for most fine-use requirements. It will be understood that the actual size of the small droplets that are being deposited depends on the final use requirements of the educational article. It is the precise control of the deposit of the small droplets and the size of each small droplet that allows the production of solid articles t pd i in iana 1. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the deposit material and the control over the size of the small droplets is preiso within fractions of millimeters. This improvement in the accuracy of position and size of the small droplets allows the construction of three-dimensional ai ticles without re. Urge physical intermediate models against which metal is sprayed or at additional processing steps. The thermal articles formed in accordance with the present invention are substantially free of contaminants and can be used in industrial and commercial applications. The present invention forms small droplets that are deposited in a single operation to form a three-dimensional article, the present invention includes a process of net shape that rapidly pyroduce a durable, precise three-dimensional article. Both the application increases and the subsequent solidification of the small droplets occur in a precisely controlled manner, the microstructure and geometry of the article being fired are precisely controlled in such a way that no additional processing step is required to form the three-dimensional article. The small drops are supplied with a substantially uniform rate at a preferred rate, and at a The preferred distance of the target is such that the temperature of the small droplets and the white temperature are within optically fast temperatures. Preferably, the small droplets have a preferred diameter and are deposited at a preferred distance in such a way that the pyropore or ??? between liquid and solid of the small drop is especially suitable for bonding in the tri-dimensional article. If the small drop is left cold, the small drop will form a powder-like material and will not bond well with the item. If the small droplet is too liquid, then the liquid will flow and cause uneven surges and np controlabs in the three-dimensional article before cooling on the three-dimensional article surface. In a preferred embodiment, the proportion between liquid and solid is approximately 30; 70 and the small droplets have a substantially uniform size which varies in diameter by no more than ± 25 * /. more preferably not more than about In an especially preferred embodiment, the small droplets are formed between an apparatus or form small drops of melted granddaughter 1 electrically charged uniformly. The apparatus melts a load of metal in the crucible and pushes the melted material through a small hole (45-200 μm) in diameter to form a laminar or ordinary jet of small drops. The current is broken by the imposition of vibrations (preferably from about 5 to 30 Hz) to a piezoelectric transducer to form a stream of uniform small droplets. Each small drop is charged by H-, device of c r ^ as for example a plate of high voltage (approximately 300 to 400 V) according to each small drop --e detached from the laminar stream or stream. The small drops receive a charge of the same polarity so that the small drops are rejected between them to remain separated and thus maintain their original size. In a preferred embodiment, the crucible is maintained at a higher pressure than the environment of the working space so that the liquid metal would push out through the orifice so that the pressure in the liquid controls the flow of the liquid through the small liquid. orifice. An advantage of the present invention is that it is now possible to capitalize the surface tension properties of the deposit metal to build hanging portions of material. The hanging portions comprise layers of small droplets extending beyond the edge of a previous layer to form a hanging structure. Another advantage of the present invention is that the movement of the white work station can be carried out in 3 to 5 axes. The white can be tilted in relation to the e is in addition to the linear movement along or between the e is X, Y and Z. The inclination allows the creation of hanging portions without supports in the tridi messional article. For example, the three-dimensional article can be rotated 90 ° to a piosition where the deposit of material continues to be viewed separately, but at an angle recited to the material previously removed, forming a hanging part in the finished product after the return of the part to its original source. Another advantage of the present invention is that in some embodiments, at least two materials may be used where one material is a sacrificial support material and the other material is the desired object material. The support material is supplied adjacent to the object material and is used only in the support of the hanging portions of the desired object material. The support material is removed after the completion of the three-dimensional object by the application of thermal, oxidizing, solvent, mechanical and other suitable devices that are not harmful to the three-dimensional article. The supporting material may comprise any suitable material such as metal with ba or melting point, an alloy, salt, glass, ceramic, graphite or an element composed thereof. Another advantage of the present invention is that, in some embodiments, when the distance between the arrangement of small droplets and the target is sufficiently large, a supply of small proportionally supplied yoUs from this distance will be fully requested at the which the supply of small, drops reaches the target. The supply of small droplets that solidifies before reaching the target is, in e.ei i-, a supply of powder particles acting as cores or supports for subsequent layers of the deposit material. The dust, because it is not attached to the article that is being formed, can be removed when the three-dimensional article is finished. Yet another advantage of the present invention offers, in certain embodiments, a device for relieving pressure in the layers of reservoir material. In certain preferred embodiments, a source of laser energy is used to alleviate stress as the layers of material are provided to form the dimensional article and to control the surface temperature of the interior immediately. The three-dimensional metal objects formed in accordance with the present invention have desirable characteristics and properties substantially equivalent to the properties of castings or properties superior to those of the castings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross section and partly as a detailed view of the internal parts, of an apparatus for depositing melting material to form a three-dimensional article. Figure IA is a greatly enlarged perspective view, partly in section of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1. Figure IB is a very enlarged sectional view of a small drop. Figure 1C is a perspective view of another embodiment of an apparatus for depositing material in fusion to form a typical article. Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section and partially enlarged, of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 showing a technique for depositing material and for creating hanging parts. Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, partially enlarged and partly as a detailed view of the internal parts, of a portion of another embodiment of a reliable apparatus depositing molten metal to form a three-dimensional article and to create hanging parts. Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, partially greatly enlarged and shown as a detailed view of the internal parts, illustrating a -10 portion of another embodiment of an apparatus for depositing molten material to form a three-dimensional article and creating hanging parts. Figure 4A is a side elevational view, greatly enlarged, partly in section, of the article illustrated in Figure 4 being formed. Figure 5 is a perspective view, partially in section, partly greatly enlarged and partially as a detail view to the internal parts, showing a part of another embodiment of a reliable apparatus depositing material in fusion to form a three-dimensional article and create hanging parts. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, illustrating a portion of another embodiment of an apparatus for depositing molten material to form a trivet structure. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference now to the drawings, various modalities of the process to form an identical article and the details of their use to carry out the process will be described in detail below. As illustrated in Figure 1, an apparatus 10 for forming three-dimensional objects is presented in a general manner. The apparatus 10 comprises at least an apparatus 12 for the formation of uniform small droplets, and in the heated apparatus, it comprises an additional apparatus 13 for forming small droplets. It will be understood that the uniform droplet formation apparatus may be as described in US Patent No. 5,266,098 to Chun et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The uniform droplet formation apparatuses 12 and 13 are enclosed in a chamber 15 in a preferred embodiment. The chamber 15 comprises a frame 8 which contains a suitable transparent cover 9. The chamber 15 encloses an inert atmosphere and prevents unwanted contaminants from coming into contact with the molten material when the dimensional article is being formed. However, it will be understood that in other embodiments other devices for removing contaminants from the melting metal being deposited are within the scope of the present invention, and an alternative embodiment illustrating a hemispherical chamber 15 is shown in Figure 1C. The apparatus 12 for forming uniform small droplets, in a pyreferid mode, is substantially similar to the apparatus 13 for forming uniform small droplets. To facilitate the explanation, a set of common numbers will be described to elements in each apparatus 12 and 13 of formation of small uniform gouts. The ion-shaped apparatus 12 of uniform small droplets and the uniform droplet formation apparatus 13 each comprise a vibration device 16 and a crucible 18. It is understood that each crucible 18 has a heating device 19 for melting the material of reservoir 14 to a desired temperature, and a positive displacement i 21 will displace the crucible 18 in at least one direction, er »some -5 modes, 3 directions and / or enter the axes ü, Y and 7. It will be understood furthermore that in certain embodiments the melt material 14 within the crucible 18 can be found to have a desired pressure coming from a pressure-forming device 17. The melted material 14, in a preferred embodiment, is subjected to vibrations more than half of the device of vibration 16 at an amplitude and frequency d se-idas. A stream or stream 28 of material 14 emerging from the crucible 18 is formed from at least one orifice 20. The vibration of the stream 28 causes the formation of a plurality of small droplets 36 having a substantially uniform size and shape. . According to the small jaws 36 formed, the small drops 36 pass through a charging system 22. The charging system 22 generally comprises a loading plate 24 having at least one opening 26 aligned with the hole 20. The loading system 22 piles a load on the small drops 36 as the small drops 36 are forming. As each small drop 36 falls off the stream 28, each small drop 36 retains a 3 part 58 of the load. When the small drops 36 descend, the small drops 36 pass through a focusing or alignment device 30 or adjacent to said focusing or alignment device 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the alignment device 30 may have a cylindrical shape or a conical shape (not shown) which is shown in cross section to facilitate illustration. The alignment device 30 comprises a loading or repelling surface 32 defining an opening 34, as best seen in Figure IA. The charging surface or repellent 32 is preferably made of a highly conductive material such as copper, aluminum, steel and the like, and in some embodiments, has a length of approximately 15 ° to approximately 45? mm. The opening 34 has a diameter generally of approximately 10 to approximately 40 mm. It will be understood that in other embodiments, the length and diameter of the repellent surface 32 depend, at least in part, on the type of material being deposited, the size of the small droplets and the final shape of the three-dimensional article. When the loading or replenishing surface 32 is held at a predetermined desired tension, the small drops 36 remain at a predetermined distance from each other and from the loading or repelling surface 32. the repellent force is generally illustrated by means of double arrows 35 head in the figure Correct each small droplet 36 low, a small guide droplet 36A is rejected, not only from a small drop following -T.6B, but also from the sides of the loading surface or repellent 32, thus preventing small droplets of charge similar to each other or they are dispersed laterally. The small droplets tend to cluster around an axis extending lengthwise through the alignment device 30. The charge in the small droplets allows the small droplets to be supplied in a very precise fine line. It is understood that any suitable metal can be used according to the end use application. The actual charge of each small drop depends not only on the type of metal used but also on the d? the small droplet and the diameter of the opening 34 through which descend the small charged droplets 36 and the tension between the stack 32 of charge or repellent and the small drops 36. A charge in the small drops 36 of the order of 1 / 10,000,000 coulomb / gram is useful; however, it is understood that other loads are also useful and that the loads depend on the various parameters mentioned above. The small droplets solidify at least partially during the descent and are in a semi-liquid state at the point of impact in which the small droplets reach a substrate or workstation posi- tioning system 40. As can be seen in Figure IB, when the small drops 36 are cooled, a film 37 is formed which protects a melting portion 39. In some embodiments, when the small drop 36 comes into contact with either the positioning system described in the work 40 or With small drops previously deposited, the film opens and the small drop flattens. In preferred embodiments, at the point of impact, the small droplet has an optimum ratio of approximately 50:50 to approximately 20% and preferably 3O.70 between the liquid fraction and the solid fraction of the small droplet. The optimum proportion ensures a precise deposit of each individual small drop and it eives a new too important fusion of the white or a puddling of the liquid material at the point of impact. With reference another one? to Figure 1, the workstation passivation system 40 comprises a plurality of mobile devices for moving a workstation surface 42 or. A first mobile device 44 displaces the workstation surface 42 in a Y direction (towards "forward"). and backward) generally illustrated by the arrow Y in the first scroll device 44. A second mobile device 46 generally moves the workstation surface 42 in the X direction (horizontal or left and right) in accordance with General arrow illustrated by the arrow X illustrated in the deployment device 46. A third mobile device 48 moves the work station in the Z direction (vertical or bi-direction to arpbs and below) as generally illustrated by the arrow Z on the device 48. In the fashion nail 1 idades, an e ua io di spo ior i o 1 50 shifts gener ally to >; - | The position of the work station in the X direction between at least one first position or station and a second position or station is included. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the first small droplet forming apparatus 12 supplies one type of melting material while the second small droplet forming apparatus 13 provides a different type of melt material. The system 4 < "Workstation positioning" can be unraveled between the devices 12 and 13 for forming small drops by means of the fourth mobile trial 5 < "> . The work station positioning system 40 and the fourth moving means 50 are operatively connected through an additional moving means 52 such as, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic device to an energy source (not shown) for moving the device 40 to position work station. The workstation system 40 and the devices 12 and 13 for forming small droplets are operatively connected to a control device 56 that has a planning system for providing instructions for the displacement of the system. 40 of working station and / or operation instructions for devices 12 and 13 to form ion of small droplets. The control device 54 may preferably have a computer software program or a planning system that reads a solid model representation of the object geometry and the collection system sectioned this review into a final number of slice. The program compiuto -ordordin the action of the system 40 of pasiciciriamiento station cié work and monitors all entries sen-.or > -such as pressure, temperature, arya, speed of ali ation, frequency, amplitude and di stany. The method of the present invention results in the ability to produce, within a matter of hours, from the start, a new metal part having hanging portions directly from a CAD file. The three-dimensional article has the properties of strength and durability that can be favorably compared with its machined counterparts. Furthermore, while the reservoir as illustrated here shows a single orifice 20, it is understood that multiple orifices may be employed in the present invention according to the geometry of the art. t idimension l «.jue is being formed. It is further contemplated that the chamber 15 may encompass a vacuum chamber to remove ambient air or oxygen from the deflection chamber. It is also contemplated that "other devices" having, for example, a much smaller glass dome or a similar container, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, may be used to evacuate the ambient, oxygen or "similar" atmosphere of the chamber. of tank 15 and place inside the chamber an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen. The chamber may comprise a lower hole 5¿. and an upper hole 58 to allow injection and evacuation of an inert gas and / or ambient atmosphere. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the work positioning system 40 can "move precisely in the three planes in such a way that, when the small drops 36 are deposited in a predetermined pattern, each small droplet 36 is accumulated in small droplets deposited previously to form a new surface 38 of idimensional article 60, as illustrated in figure 2. The three-dimensional article 60 is generally illustrated. If it were formed of small vanes "flattened 36C drops. As they form the new surface 38. As each small droplet is deposited, the small droplets merge and form a vertical wall 62 in article 60. In this embodiment, successive layers of small, 36D droplets are formed in such a way that the small droplets Use portions of the small droplets 36C previously deposited. Subsequent 36D small drops impact on the previous 36C small drops «in such a way that the diameter of the small 36D drops splices the small drops 36C. From this "array, as successive rows" of small drops 36E, 36F, 36T form, the small drops 36D, 36E, 36E and 36G form a hanging portion generally illustrated as 64. As each small3 impiacts the small droplets previously deposited and solidifies, the hanging portion 64 is formed directly without the need for any supporting substrate. Figure 3 illustrates an example of another modality «d where a support or workstation positioning system 140 having a flat surface or a work station 1 2 can rotate around 5 axes in such a way that the Work station 1 2 can be rotated in acicular dimensions. For example, the power system 140 is illustrated rotated in the vertical direction (Y) in such a way that "the small drops 36 can be deposited to form the complex dimensional form" of an article 70. It will be understood that a first portion 72 «of article 70 can be formed while« that the flat surface 142 is in the substratum plane - horizontally and horizontally (X), Then, while the pollunculum device 140 is substantially in the p.l3n «:? horizontally, a second portion 74 is formed where the small 'droplets are deposited' will trust the second one by point 74 which extends at a subs 'angle:' to the straight lumen t * n relation to the first portion 72 Next, the positioning device 140 is rotated about "ee in an XY plane to allow the formation" of a third portion 76 of the article 70 at an angle. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a fourth portion 78 of article 70 is formed by rotating "d i sf > «: > s 1 1 v «:? "Of positioning 140 to a vei ical direction". i ') in such a way that the small drops are deposited vertically. Refer now to FIG. 4, an additional three-dimensional article 80 is generally being formed in a workstation system 240 having a work station surface 242. The positioning system 240 is preferred. the mobile in at least three directions between the axes X, Y and 7. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the first device 12 for forming small drops deposits small drops 82 of a first mat 84 on 13 surface of the station 242 «in a way completed. In the illustrated embodiment, the second "small droplet" formation device 13contains a second material 90 to support material "depositing small" jacks of the second material 90 on portions or adjacent to portions of the article 80 to act as co-ordinates. a support material. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, article B comprises a plurality of capias 80A that form a portion of article 80. Second material 90 is deposited on adjacent to deposit material 80. Semi-material 90 it can then receive additional small drops 8 B kept in position by the second «r> material 90. At the end of the idimensional article 80, the second material 90 can be removed by any means, as previously stated. With referene; Now to FIG. 5, the "small droplet formation device 12 can be" moved "in the X, Y and S directions. The small droplet formation device 12 is operatively connected to the displacement device 12. 21 and can move at least in a vertical direction or direction 7 to raise the "formation" device of small drops 12 in such a way that the distance between the small droplet formation device 12 and a workstation positioning system 340 that sustains a three-dimensional article 12 that is being formed can be inculcated. It is understood that the workstation positioning system 340 can also be moved in a vertical or 7 direction in accordance with l > - > illustrated in detail view of the internal parts in figure 5) to increase the distance between the device 12"of formation of small drops and the article 120" that is being formed. The increase in the "distance between the small cat-forming device 12, and the impact area of small gums allow a plurality of small-sized drops to be taken. solidify substanc i 31-t.ente before reaching the target. According to the small droplets 36Z solidify, the small sun droplets identified for 36Z form a powder particulate material 122 that acts as a support material. At the end of the tridial article 120, the support material or powder 122 can be removed from the three-dimensional article 120. The "distance and velocity with which the small drops 367 are deposited is monitored in such a way that the small drops 367 are not formed or joined in the article 120. In various embodiments, the powder support area 122 may not retain its "desired" configuration in order to act as an adequate support for the hanging parts. In such situations, the power of powder sampler 122 is preferably supported by an external or internal wall 124 made from melt material 36. Figure 6 illustrates a modality >-ie a device 300 will relieve the tension in an article 280 that is being formed. It is understood that, while the «di sp« -? S? 11 Voltage relief 100 is illustrated in relation to a crucible system 290, the tension relief device 100 can be employed in all the modalities of the present invention and is illustrated here with a crucible system to facilitate illustration. The stress relief device 30 may comprise a laser source. The strain relief device 300 has several steering devices 302 and 3 for "directing a beam 306 of laser light or energing the laser to a portion 286 of the material" that is being deposited. The laser beam 306 relieves the tension in the material 280 that is being deposited and simultaneously bonding on the c-pair, previously deposited to avoid "accumulation of corrugations, warping and other voltages er" 3 article 280. In addition, the laser beam 306 it can be used to maintain a temperature control in the area of immediate impact as 3 small drops 282 are deposited on the three-dimensional article 280 that is being formed. It will be understood, however, that, in some embodiments, other methods of relieving tension in each layer, such as "shot blasting", thermal induction or other processes of hardening, may also be employed and are useful. The present invention Within the contemplated scope of the present invention, in another embodiment, powder particles can be formed by employing "apiates" forming "small droplets"> "Where a device is positioned at a first distance from of the system of pio n: «station« working station in such a way that the small drops form the three-dimensional article, and where the second device is positioned at a second «greater distance in relation to the« positioning system of work station «in such a way» -μ.e form dust particles In accordance with the present invention, no additional processing steps are required in the article ends once the deposit process is finished. One of the methods for forming a three-dimensional article described here can be used to produce an idiomatic article of any configuration, size and / or composition. While some preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to these modalities but can be carried out in various ways within "the scope" of the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for the preferential use of a three-dimensional article of free form without the use of a mold «of the three-dimensional article, the method you understand to provide a supply of small droplets of substantially uniform size with a material desired, every little drop has a positive negative, align each pe «^ n> A drop in the supply of small droplets in a substantive narrow stream, the small droplets are aligned allowing the small droplets to pass adjacent to an alignment device or through an alignment device «which has the same charge as the small droplets, where the alignment device rejects one of the small drops towards an axis that tends through the alignment device, depositing each of the small droplets aligned in a predetermined pattern to a predetermined velocity on a blanc.?-3 or a layer of recent formation of the tri-dimensional article for forming the three-dimensional article, and will provide a support material in a predetermined pattern adjacent to the small drops deposited for each day. layer, and then provide an additional supply of small drops of the desired material in the supporting material of the support material eg rmi e > - said "additional deposit" of the small drops of desired material for "at least a portion of the three-dimensional article.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the support material has a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the material of the --- small chotas.
3. 3. The support material of the rei indicates ion 1, wherein the support material comprises at least one metal, salt, glass, ceramic, alloy, graphite or a combination of 1 os.
4. 4. The "do" method of claim 1, wherein the support material is removed from the three-dimensional article under conditions "that are not" harmful to the artifact. I have an insent onal.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the support material is removed by "heating the three-dimensional article and the support material at a temperature sufficient to melt the support material.
6. 6. The method of claim 1, in "where the support material is removed from the three-dimensional article by means of the 3rd article of the article" d? Mens? onal and the «Hateria! of solvent support to dissolve e3 support material.
7. 7. The method of claim 1, in the "support material, is removed" from the three-dimensional article "Hediting the sporadicity of the three-dimensional article and the supporting material to a sufficient quantity" of oxygen at r > : > :, idar the --------- support material.
8. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the support material is frangible and is free from the three-dimensional article "Hediting the exposure of the support material to conditions that cause the rupture" of the support material.
9. 9. The "nd-Ddo" of claim t, where "each small drop is kept separate" from adjacent small droplets while maintaining the positive or negative charge in > A small drop until each small "drop" is deposited in the blank or in the layer of recent formation of the tripartite article 1.
10. 10. E3 «rté of 3 to claim 1, in The "alignment device" has a substantive 3-way illicit form «• - > f rusto-cómea. The method of claim 1, wherein "the target is mobile in at least three directions. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired "Hateria l" supply can be "displaced" in the "Hayos una di ecci". 13. The method of claim 1, wherein small "uniformly sized droplets are formed by vibrating a supply" of the dried material at a desired frequency and / or amp. 14. The method of recirculation 1, where the target is mobile at a speed of e in relation to the supply of small droplets to form the three-dimensional article. 15. The method of claim 1, where the three-dimensional article is formed from a computed model and where, through sof wa e, the «material deposit of the material is guided. 16. A three-dimensional article formed by the method of claim 1. 17. An apparatus will provide for the precise formation of a free-form kidney article without the use of a device.In the case of the three-dimensional article, the apparatus comprises: a "positive device to provide a supply" of small drops of substantially uniform size of a desired material, each small drop having a positive or negative charge, a device for aligning the supply of small droplets in a substantially narrow stream, the small droplets aligned are deposited in a predetermined pattern at a predetermined speed in a target «--- > A layer of forina is a recent layer of the three-dimensional article to form the three-dimensional article, where the alignment device rejects the small droplets toward an ee "extending through the alignment device until it falls" sma
11. ll. The droplet is deposited on the blank or in the rough layer of the three-dimensional article, and is disposed to provide a supply of support material in a pre-paired pattern adjacent to the deposited small droplets where the The support allows an additional deposit of the small droplets of desired material to form at least a portion of the three-dimensional element 1. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, "dominates the line arrangement"; It includes at least one repellent plate that has the same charge as the small drops where each small drop is rejected from the adjacent small droplets and from the repellent plate. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a device for vibrating the supply of the desired material so that small droplets of uni form size are formed. 20. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising "from" there is a computer-aided design software package to guide the target and / or supply of desired material "D. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, "where the digital apparatus is formed from a computerized pointer and where, by software, the precise deposition of the" na tentent "is guided. wanted.