3D PRINTER WITH SPOOL AND MATERIAL CONTAINER
    62.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20180043629A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-15

    申请号:US15237149

    申请日:2016-08-15

    CPC classification number: B33Y50/02 B29C64/118 B29C64/255 B33Y30/00

    Abstract: A 3D printer has a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane, and a platen configured to support a part being built. The platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. A head carriage is carried by the gantry, and a print head is carried by and retained in the head carriage. A material container has a material container body and a material container cover configured to allow loading of a spool containing a supply of a consumable filament for printing with the 3D printer, the spool mounted on an axle containing a spool chip and electrical contacts. The material container body includes a first and second axle channels configured to accept first and second ends of the axle. The first axle channel has a number of electrical contacts and is tapered to orient the axle to align the axle contacts with the first axle channel contacts. A material well has first and second well edge landings at a first radius from the central longitudinal axis, the well edge landings extending toward each other from inner edges of the material well inwardly toward a center of the material well. An extension well extends laterally from the first and second well edge landings to a second radius larger than the first radius.

    FILAMENT LOADING DRIVE IN A 3D PRINTER
    63.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20180043628A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-15

    申请号:US15237161

    申请日:2016-08-15

    Abstract: A 3D printer includes at least one consumable loading bay configured to supply filament from a consumable supply assembly to a print head and at least one drive assembly that is configured to advance filament to the print head from the consumable supply. Each drive assembly includes a follower wheel rotatable about a follower axis and a drive wheel spaced apart from the follower wheel. The drive wheel is rotatable about a drive axis and is located on an opposing side of a filament path from the follower wheel such that the follower axis and the drive axis are substantially parallel. The drive wheel further includes an outer surface extending between two ends and has at least one engaging portion that is configured to engage with the filament and at least one disengaging portion that is configured to disengage from the filament.

    ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING WITH MOVING PLATEN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER

    公开(公告)号:US20170192382A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-07-06

    申请号:US15386853

    申请日:2016-12-21

    Inventor: James Baecker

    Abstract: A method of printing a part in an electrophotographic additive manufacturing system includes printing a part and associated support structure in a layer by layer manner, and providing a chamber in which printing is performed. The chamber is supported by a movable platform and the chamber is positioned about a movable platen. The movable platen is supported by the movable build platform. The movable platen is movable within the chamber on the movable build platform. An electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a three-dimensional part, and a support from one or more imaging engines. The system includes a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature, and a layer transfusion assembly configured to transfuse the imaged layers to the build platen or a previously printed layer.

    MULTI-USER ACCESS TO FABRICATION RESOURCES
    68.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20170173888A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-06-22

    申请号:US15378994

    申请日:2016-12-14

    Abstract: An interactive platform supports multi-user participation in a shared virtual workspace to prepare and schedule virtual print trays for printing on a three-dimensional (3D) printer or other fabrication resource. Computerized models may be automatically positioned within the print tray, manually positioned within the print tray, or some combination of these. After objects are placed in the virtual workspace users may be given identity-based control of the print tray including, e.g., identity-specific capabilities for viewing, modifying or removing objects within the print tray. This permits improved control over aspects of interest to particular users including, e.g., security, object orientation, priority, fabrication speed, fabrication cost, and so forth within a shared fabrication environment.

    ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING METHOD USING A PLURALITY OF SYNCHRONIZED LASER BEAMS

    公开(公告)号:US20170173737A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-06-22

    申请号:US15380660

    申请日:2016-12-15

    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a first and second scanners with fields of view that at least partially overlap. The method includes applying a layer of powder-based materials to the part bed and providing a number of laser sources that direct a number of laser beams to the first and second scanners. The laser beams are directed from the scanners to the part bed to selectively fuse the material to produce a layer of a three-dimensional part. The layer is formed by selectively directing laser energy to the material in a selected pattern, and synchronizing the movement of the laser beams to continuously process the selected pattern in each layer of the three-dimensional part. An additive manufacturing system includes first and second laser sources, first and second scanners, and a controller configured to operate the scanners and laser(s) for producing the three-dimensional printed part.

Patent Agency Ranking