A method and apparatus for creating three dimensional solid forms in
metals, ceramics, organics or any combination thereof is made possible
using a computer controlled system to create local environmental
conditions that favor deposition from a material stream, precursor gas,
weld process or plasma. In order to increase control and accuracy, the
material can also be placed while the target area is monitored by a
broadband poly-spectral imaging system, which provides dimensional,
geometrical, chemical composition, stress and temperature feedback to the
computer controlling the process. The local environmental conditions in
the deposition area are controlled for magnetic, electric, and acoustic
fields as well as for temperature, pressure, flow dynamics, and
atmospheric composition. Complex materials can be "written" to match a
computer's file of a three dimensional shape with virtually any material
composition, surface finish, and geometrical complexity. Discrete
components, such as microspheres, optical, electronic or any other
components or materials that do not lend themselves to the deposition
process, can be inserted and the shape written around them to make them an
integral part of the final form. While the system can "write" a
three-dimensional shape it can also be used to "erase" some or all of a
shape. The environmental conditions can also be changed so that material
can be removed under computer controlled so that any corrections or final
features can be created including such operations as final polishing or
surface finishing. The digital files containing the three-dimensional
image, environmental and compositional data can be sent to remote
locations where the data can be used to write a new three dimensional
object.
