Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system includes a gantry configured to move in a build plane. A platen is configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process and wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. A head carriage is carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes ferromagnetic material. The system includes at least one print head where the print head includes a housing and one or more magnets attached to the housing wherein the at least one print head is configured to be coupled to the head carriage through a magnetic coupling between the one or more magnets and the ferromagnetic material such that the print head is configured to move rotationally relative to the head carriage.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts includes a print foundation, a print head, a drive mechanism, and a supporting surface that creates an air bearing for parts under construction as they move through the system. The print head is configured to print a 3D part onto the print foundation in a layer-by-layer manner in a vertical print plane. The drive mechanism is configured to index the print foundation substantially along a horizontal print axis during printing of the 3D part. The support surface is provided by a table extending along the horizontal axis. The table has a plurality of air jets forming an air platen, which generates the air bearing for supporting the 3D part as it is incremented along the print axis.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system includes a gantry configured to move in a build plane. A platen is configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process and wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. A head carriage is carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes ferromagnetic material. The system includes at least one print head where the print head includes a housing and one or more magnets attached to the housing wherein the at least one print head is configured to be coupled to the head carriage through a magnetic coupling between the one or more magnets and the ferromagnetic material such that the print head is configured to move rotationally relative to the head carriage.
Abstract:
A method for printing a three-dimensional part in an additive manufacturing process, which includes calculating surface plane angles relative to one or more of the coordinate axes as a function of surface area of the surface geometry, calculating a build score for each coordinate axis as a function of the calculated surface plane angles, and selecting an orientation for the digital model in the coordinate system based at least in part on the calculated build scores. The build scores preferably predict which part orientations are likely to provide good surface quality for the printed three-dimensional part.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts includes a print foundation, a print head, a drive mechanism, and a supporting surface that creates an air bearing for parts under construction as they move through the system. The print head is configured to print a 3D part onto the print foundation in a layer-by-layer manner in a vertical print plane. The drive mechanism is configured to index the print foundation substantially along a horizontal print axis during printing of the 3D part. The support surface is provided by a table extending along the horizontal axis. The table has a plurality of air jets forming an air platen, which generates the air bearing for supporting the 3D part as it is incremented along the print axis.
Abstract:
A method for printing a three-dimensional part in an additive manufacturing process, which includes calculating surface plane angles relative to one or more of the coordinate axes as a function of surface area of the surface geometry, calculating a build score for each coordinate axis as a function of the calculated surface plane angles, and selecting an orientation for the digital model in the coordinate system based at least in part on the calculated build scores. The build scores preferably predict which part orientations are likely to provide good surface quality for the printed three-dimensional part.