Patents by Inventor Nathan Crane

Nathan Crane has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230250028
    Abstract: A large area sintering platform, system, and methodology. The system includes a convection oven with a projection window disposed within a top surface of the oven. A platform is disposed within the oven below the window at a spaced distance away from the window. A powder is positioned on top of the platform, with a thermocouple positioned within the powder on the platform. A high intensity projector moves in sync with the platform, and uses low intensities and long exposure times to project an image through the window onto the powder and sinter the powder to fabricate the desired model layer by layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Gardiner, Justin Nussbaum, Nathan Crane
  • Patent number: 11643366
    Abstract: A large area sintering platform, system, and methodology. The system includes a convection oven with a projection window disposed within a top surface of the oven. A platform is disposed within the oven below the window at a spaced distance away from the window. A powder is positioned on top of the platform, with a thermocouple positioned within the powder on the platform. A high intensity projector moves in sync with the platform, and uses low intensities and long exposure times to project an image through the window onto the powder and sinter the powder to fabricate the desired model layer by layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Gardiner, Justin Nussbaum, Nathan Crane
  • Patent number: 11642839
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to method for increasing the molecular weight of a polymer material during an additive manufacturing process. The method can comprise disposing a first layer of the polymer material at a target surface; exposing the first layer of the polymer material to an energy source for a sufficient period of time to sinter or melt and undergo a condensation reaction at least at a portion of the polymer material; controlling the condensation reaction to allow a desired increased number average molecular weight of the polymer material; and repeating the method steps to form an object in a layerwise fashion. Controlling the condensation reaction can comprise controlling and/or adjusting an energy 10 source-related parameter, a polymer-related parameter, a temperature related parameter, a vacuum related parameter, a process duration, a processing gas, an air flow volume and/or speed, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Justin Nussbaum, Nathan Crane
  • Publication number: 20200247042
    Abstract: A large area sintering platform, system, and methodology. The system includes a convection oven with a projection window disposed within a top surface of the oven. A platform is disposed within the oven below the window at a spaced distance away from the window. A powder is positioned on top of the platform, with a thermocouple positioned within the powder on the platform. A high intensity projector moves in sync with the platform, and uses low intensities and long exposure times to project an image through the window onto the powder and sinter the powder to fabricate the desired model layer by layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Gardiner, Justin Nussbaum, Nathan Crane