Abstract:
A method for 3D printing a part with an additive manufacturing system includes printing a first portion (302)(308) of a part (342) in a layerwise manner and analyzing a topology (344) of the first portion (302)(308) of the part. The method includes determining a tool path for printing a second portion (306) of the part on a surface of the first portion (302) of the part (346), and pre-heating the first portion (302)(308) of the part along the tool path as a function of the topological analysis of the first portion of the part (348). The method includes printing the second portion (306) of the part along the tool path (350).
Abstract:
A filament drive mechanism (100) for use with an additive manufacturing system (10) includes at least first and second drives (160, 170). Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft (110, 161) and a second rotatable shaft (172, 180) engaged with the first rotatable shaft (161, 172) in a counter rotational configuration. Each drive (160, 170) includes a pair of filament engagement elements (126, 166 and 178, 186), one on each rotatable shaft, and positioned on opposing sides of the filament path (218) with a gap therebetween so as to engage a filament provided in the filament path (218). The drive mechanism (100) includes a bridge follower (190) configured to rotatably couple the first drive (160) to the second drive (170) wherein one of the shafts (110, 172, 190) is a drive shaft configured to be driven by a motor at a rotational rate selected to advance the filament at a desired feed rate and to cause the other shafts to rotate at the same rotational rate, such that each pair of filament engagement teeth (126, 166 and 178, 186) will engage a filament in the filament path (218) and will coordinate to advance the filament while counter-rotating at the same rotational rate to drive the filament into a liquefier.
Abstract:
A polymeric blend includes a blend of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymers. The polymeric material includes a blend of at least two PVP polymers wherein at least one of the PVP polymers has an average molecular weight of about 40,000 daltons or greater. The support material can be thermally stable at temperatures above 80°C. The support material is disintegrable in aqueous solutions such as tap water.
Abstract:
A method of printing a three-dimensional part (120) includes dividing each of a plurality of layers of a model of the three-dimensional part (120) into a plurality of passes (502), where each of the plurality of passes (502) is separated from one or more adjacent passes by a gap. The gap between passes in a first layer (500) is offset from the gap between passes (502) in an adjacent layer, such that the gap between passes (502) in the first layer does not align with or stack with the gap between passes in the adjacent layer (500).
Abstract:
A liquefier assembly (20) for use in an additive manufacturing system (10) to print three-dimensional parts (22), which includes an upstream pressure-generating stage (52) and downstream flow-regulating stage (52). The upstream pressure-generating stage (52) includes a drive mechanism (46), a liquefier configured (52) to melt a consumable material (48) receive from the drive mechanism (46) to produce a molten material in a pressurized state. The downstream flow-regulating stage (52) includes a gear assembly (52) having a casing assembly (64,66,68) and a pair of gears (74,76) disposed within the interior cavity (78,80) and engaged with each other to regulate a flow of the pressurized molten material (48) through the gear assembly (52) for controlled extrusion.
Abstract:
A method and system (10) for printing a three-dimensional part (74), which includes producing a developed layer (64) of a part material with one or more electrophotography engines (12) of an additive manufacturing system (10), transferring the developed layer (64) from the one or more electrophotography engines (12) to a transfer assembly (14) of the additive manufacturing system (10) sintering the developed layer (64) at the transfer assembly (14) to produce a sintered contiguous film (64F), cooling the sintered contiguous film (64F) down to a transfer temperature, and pressing the cooled sintered contiguous film (64F) into contact with an intermediate build surface (76) of the three-dimensional part (74) with a low applied pressure.
Abstract:
A consumable assembly (22) for use with an additive manufacturing system (10) to print three-dimensional parts (30), the consumable assembly (22) including a supply device (e.g., a spool (118)) and a filament (52) supported by the supply device, where the filament (52) has a composition comprising one or more elastomers and one or more reinforcing additives, and a filament geometry configured to be received by a liquefier assembly (44) of the additive manufacturing system (10). The composition is preferably configured to be thermally and/or chemically modified to reduce its flexural modulus.
Abstract:
A part material for printing three-dimensional parts (80) with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system (10), the part material including a composition having a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system (10) having a layer transfusion assembly (20) for printing the three-dimensional parts (80) in a layer-by-layer manner.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system (1) that retains a print head (18) for printing a three-dimensional part (20) in a layer-by-layer manner using an additive manufacturing technique, where the retained print head (18) is configured to receive a consumable material (64), melt the consumable material (64), and extrude the molten material (72). The system also includes a velocimetry assembly (66) configured to determine flow rates of the molten material (72), and a controller assembly (46) configured to manage the extrusion of the molten material (72) from the print head (18), and to receive signals from the velocimetry assembly (66) relating to the determined flow rates.
Abstract:
A method for printing a three-dimensional part (20) with an additive manufacturing system (10), the method including printing layers of the three-dimensional part (20) and of a support structure (22) for the three-dimensional part (20) from multiple print heads (18) or deposition lines, and switching the print heads (18) or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part (20) and the support structure (22). The method also includes performing a purge operation for each print head (18) or deposition line switched to the operating mode, where the purge operation includes printing a layer of at least one purge tower (24) from the print head (18) or deposition line switched to the operating mode.