Patents · Since January 2017
The patents behind PostPro vapor smoothing.
AMT has filed its own inventions since January 9, 2017, starting with the controlled vapor smoothing process behind PostPro. These are the patent families on the public record, with every publication linked to its register entry.
- Patent families
- 20
- Granted patents and utility models
- 26
- Publications on the record
- 114
- Families in vapor smoothing
- 6
Public record as of . Granted rights count 24 patents in the UK, Europe, the US and China plus 2 German utility models, each once.
Patent families
Twenty inventions, one family at a time.
A family is one invention, filed in several offices. Each card shows what it protects in plain English, where it is granted and every publication on the record. Inventors on the current AMT team are named; other inventors are counted.
Vapor smoothing
6 families · from the first controlled vapor smoothing machine to solvent recovery and new solvents
-
Family 01Vapor smoothing
Controlled vapor smoothing of polymer parts
The core PostPro process: a controlled chamber that smooths each part to its size, complexity and the finish you ask for.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
- UKGB2560073B (opens in a new tab)
- UKGB2582222B (opens in a new tab)
- UKGB2582225B (opens in a new tab)
- EuropeEP3565712B1 (opens in a new tab)
- USUS12162220B2 (opens in a new tab)
- ChinaCN110382211B (opens in a new tab)
- GermanyDE202017007250U1 (opens in a new tab)
- GermanyDE202017007255U1 (opens in a new tab)
21 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2018127683A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2560073A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted CN110382211A (opens in a new tab) China Application Published, later granted EP3565712A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published, later granted HK1259651A1 (opens in a new tab) Hong Kong Application Published US20190375158A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Abandoned DE202017007250U1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Utility model Granted DE202017007255U1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Utility model Granted GB2560073B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted GB2582222A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2582225A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2582222B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted GB2582225B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted CN110382211B (opens in a new tab) China Granted patent Granted US20230091181A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published, later granted EP3565712B1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Granted patent Granted DK3565712T3 (opens in a new tab) Denmark Validation of EP grant Granted ES2961482T3 (opens in a new tab) Spain Validation of EP grant Granted PL3565712T3 (opens in a new tab) Poland Validation of EP grant Granted US12162220B2 (opens in a new tab) US Granted patent Granted US20250050584A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published -
Family 07Vapor smoothing
Smoothing binder-based parts, including metal
A method that smooths binder-based printed parts (for example metal) by applying a chemical, such as a condensed vapor, that softens the binder so surface powder flows into the layer steps.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
No grant yet on the public record.
5 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2020249936A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2584834A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published CN114040824A (opens in a new tab) China Application Published EP3980206A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US20220250154A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published -
Family 08Vapor smoothing
Post-processing with heated solvent fluids
A method that improves the surface finish of powder-based printed parts by applying a heated processing fluid containing selected solvents (organic esters, aromatic compounds or acetals).
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
- UKGB2594568B (opens in a new tab)
- EuropeEP4114649B1 (opens in a new tab)
- USUS11919262B2 (opens in a new tab)
12 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2021176217A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2594568A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2594568B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted GB2604764A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published EP4114649A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published, later granted US20230166466A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published, later granted US11919262B2 (opens in a new tab) US Granted patent Granted EP4114649B1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Granted patent Granted DK4114649T3 (opens in a new tab) Denmark Validation of EP grant Granted ES2985413T3 (opens in a new tab) Spain Validation of EP grant Granted PL4114649T3 (opens in a new tab) Poland Validation of EP grant Granted HUE068399T2 (opens in a new tab) Hungary Validation of EP grant Granted -
Family 10Vapor smoothing
Vapor smoothing investment casting patterns
A vapor smoothing process for 3D printed investment casting patterns that controls chamber temperature and pressure while drying, so the patterns are smoothed without deforming.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2021255467A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published -
Family 11Vapor smoothing
Solvent recovery after vapor smoothing
A vapor-smoothing process step that condenses the solvent vapor after processing by changing chamber pressure and/or temperature, then extracts it for recovery.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 3 more named inventors
2 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2597240A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2597240B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted -
Family 17Vapor smoothing
Smoothing with carboxylic ester solvents
A smoothing process for thermoplastic printed parts that uses a heated carboxylic ester solvent (for example a lactone), as a liquid or condensed vapor, in place of alcohol-based solvents.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
No grant yet on the public record.
6 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2620398A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published WO2024009070A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2620652A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published CN119522251A (opens in a new tab) China Application Published EP4551642A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US20250381743A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published
Other AMT inventions
14 families · surface inspection, automation, coloring, printing and finishing
-
Family 02Surface inspection
Surface roughness analysis from images
A method and system that judge the condition (roughness) of a part's surface from image data, so finishing can be checked or controlled.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 3 more named inventors
9 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2572953A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted WO2019202296A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2572953A8 (opens in a new tab) UK Corrected publication Published, later granted GB2572953B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted GB2572953B8 (opens in a new tab) UK Corrected publication Published EP3781400A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published, later granted DE19721338T1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Translation of application Published EP3781400B1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Granted patent Granted DK3781400T3 (opens in a new tab) Denmark Validation of EP grant Granted -
Family 03Powder removal
Powder removal with fluid flow and ultrasound
Equipment that removes leftover powder from powder-bed 3D-printed parts by agitating them in a fluid, including with ultrasound.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
6 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2019224556A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2575544A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published EP3801955A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US20210221063A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published, later granted DE19730435T1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Translation of application Published US11534973B2 (opens in a new tab) US Granted patent Granted -
Family 04Coloring
Coloring parts with airborne dye and solvent vapor
A chamber process that colors 3D-printed polymer parts by combining dye particles carried in gas with solvent vapor.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko, Giorgio Ioannides and 3 more named inventors
- UKGB2577772B (opens in a new tab)
- UKGB2584208B (opens in a new tab)
- EuropeEP3668705B1 (opens in a new tab)
- USUS11628623B2 (opens in a new tab)
- ChinaCN111344138B (opens in a new tab)
16 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2571804A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published GB2571804A8 (opens in a new tab) UK Corrected publication Published WO2020025944A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2577772A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted EP3668705A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published, later granted CN111344138A (opens in a new tab) China Application Published, later granted US20200238620A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published, later granted GB2577772B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted GB2584208A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2584208A9 (opens in a new tab) UK Corrected publication Published, later granted GB2584208B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted DE19750141T1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Translation of application Published CN111344138B (opens in a new tab) China Granted patent Granted US11628623B2 (opens in a new tab) US Granted patent Granted EP3668705B1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Granted patent Granted EP3668705C0 (opens in a new tab) Europe Unitary effect Published -
Family 05Automation
Automated post-processing with inspection feedback
An automated line that inspects a printed part's surface finish and uses that measurement to adjust support removal and surface processing.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
- UKGB2579276B (opens in a new tab)
- UKGB2583430B (opens in a new tab)
- EuropeEP3860829B1 (opens in a new tab)
- USUS12565004B2 (opens in a new tab)
15 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2020070518A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2579276A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2583430A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted GB2579276B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted CN112996651A (opens in a new tab) China Application Published EP3860829A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published, later granted GB2583430B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted DE19787387T1 (opens in a new tab) Germany Translation of application Published US20210387415A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published, later granted EP3860829B1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Granted patent Granted EP4497594A2 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published DK3860829T3 (opens in a new tab) Denmark Validation of EP grant Granted DK3860829T5 (opens in a new tab) Denmark Corrected publication Granted EP4497594A3 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US12565004B2 (opens in a new tab) US Granted patent Granted -
Family 06Printing
Powder-bed printer with build beds on a closed loop
A powder-bed 3D printer whose build beds travel on a closed loop around a horizontal axis, making printed parts easier to reach.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
4 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2020201581A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2596175A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted EP3946899A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published GB2596175B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted -
Family 09Support removal
Separating supports with an expanding material
A method that separates support structures from a printed part by applying a material that expands and pushes them apart.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 2 more named inventors
No grant yet on the public record.
3 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2021255471A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published EP4168202A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US20230241684A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published -
Family 12Powder removal
Powder removal with fluid jets from two directions
A method and system that removes powder from printed parts or a powder cake by directing fluid flows at them from two different directions.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- 6 named inventors
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2022018447A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published -
Family 14Coloring
Coloring in a sequence of heated dye baths
A coloring method that smooths a printed part and then dyes it in one or more heated dye baths in sequence, giving a wider color range without pre-mixing dyes.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 5 more named inventors
No grant yet on the public record.
3 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2022171985A2 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2603898A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published WO2022171985A3 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published -
Family 15Automation
Feature-guided robotic part handling
A method that adds a target feature (such as a hole) to a printed part so a camera-guided robot or actuator can find and pick it up automatically.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 2 more named inventors
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2603931A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published -
Family 16Printing
Solvent or binder printing with solvent recovery
A layer-by-layer printing method that applies a solvent or binder to selected areas of powder, then evaporates off the excess by heating and/or lowering the pressure, with a condenser to collect it.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2611314A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published -
Family 18Thermoset finishing
Faster finishing of thermoset parts
A method that heats the outer surface of a printed thermoset part to just above its heat distortion temperature so it can then be abraded (finished) faster and more easily.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
5 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2624248A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published, later granted WO2024105369A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published GB2624248B (opens in a new tab) UK Granted patent Granted EP4619220A1 (opens in a new tab) Europe Application Published US20260001275A1 (opens in a new tab) US Application Published -
Family 19Fire retardancy
Fire retardancy for polyamide parts
A treatment that improves the fire retardancy of polyamide parts (such as printed PA12) by applying a heated solution containing a phosphate ester, by immersion or condensed vapor.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Joseph Crabtree, Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko and 1 more named inventor
No grant yet on the public record.
2 publications on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB2643407A (opens in a new tab) UK Application Published WO2026038017A1 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published -
Family 20Coloring
Coloring polymer parts
A UK application filed in May 2025. Its specification is not yet published, so what it covers cannot be described from the public record.
- Earliest priority
- Inventors
- Not yet published
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date GB202506945D0 (opens in a new tab) UK Filing record Filed, not yet published -
Family 13Post-processing
After-treating additively manufactured parts
A published international application. Its summary was not visible on the public record we checked, so we do not describe it here.
- Earliest priority
- —
- Inventors
- Not yet published
No grant yet on the public record.
1 publication on the record
Number Office Document Status Date WO2022018446 (opens in a new tab) PCT International application Published
How we counted
From the public record, not from us.
Families and publications come from public patent records: Google Patents, PubChem patent records and the European Patent Register, cross-checked against the front pages of 34 published documents. Some registers block automated searches, so the list may be incomplete.
Statuses are as shown on public registers on . Whether each patent is still in force was not verified. Applications are listed as published; their current status may have changed. This page describes what each invention is about in plain English. It makes no statement about the scope, validity or infringement of any patent, and it is not legal advice.
Work with the originals
Send us a part. We’ll send it back vapor smoothed.
Our technicians vapor smooth your parts on the right PostPro system for the job, then send them back with before-and-after photos and a benchmark report.
No cost to evaluate · Parts returned · Typical turnaround 2–3 weeks3