Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213419 | Viscosity pump for extrusion-based deposition systems - A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor. | 09-04-2008 |
20090273122 | Liquefier assembly for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems - A liquefier assembly comprising a liquefier tube, where the liquefier tube comprises a sidewall having an inlet opening configured to receive a filament strand, an outlet opening, and a port disposed through the sidewall at a location between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the port being configured to provide access for a filament drive mechanism to engage with the received filament strand. The liquefier assembly further comprises a heat transfer component configured to generate a thermal gradient along a longitudinal length of the sidewall between the port and the outlet opening. | 11-05-2009 |
20090274540 | Filament drive mechanism for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems - A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least one rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable component, thereby allowing the engaged internally-threaded surface to drive the filament strand through the central hole of the rotatable component. | 11-05-2009 |
20100021580 | PANTOGRAPH ASSEMBLY FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A digital manufacturing system for producing first and second objects comprises a platen, a gantry, a pantograph extrusion head system and first and second sets of extruders. The platen defines a workspace upon which the objects are produced. The gantry defines a headspace displaced from the workspace. The extrusion head system is mounted to the gantry for movement in the headspace. The sets of extruders are connected to the extrusion head system and are configured to deposit extrusion material on the workspace to build the objects. Each set of extruders comprises a first extruder mounted to the extrusion head system; a second extruder mounted to the extrusion head system so as to be actuatable from a first to a second position; and a flexible linkage connecting the extruders. The flexible linkages position the second extruders in approximately equal known spatial relationships to the first extruders in the second positions. | 01-28-2010 |
20100076573 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BODY TISSUE SPHINCTERS AND THE LIKE - A plurality of structures that resiliently attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient around a body tissue structure of the patient. For example, the body tissue structure may be the esophagus, and the plurality of structures may be implanted in an annulus around the outside of the esophagus, the annulus being substantially coaxial with the esophagus. The attraction may be between annularly adjacent ones of the structures in the annulus, and it may be provided, for example, by magnets or springs. The array of structures is preferably self-limiting with respect to the smallest area that it can encompass, and this smallest area is preferably large enough to prevent the apparatus from applying excessive pressure to tissue passing through that area. | 03-25-2010 |
20100283172 | CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS - A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube. | 11-11-2010 |
20110074065 | RIBBON LIQUEFIER FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier. | 03-31-2011 |
20110076495 | CONSUMABLE MATERIALS HAVING TOPOGRAPHICAL SURFACE PATTERNS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a topographical surface pattern that is configured to engage with a drive mechanism of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system. | 03-31-2011 |
20110076496 | NON-CYLINDRICAL FILAMENTS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate. | 03-31-2011 |
20110186081 | SUPPORT CLEANING SYSTEM - An automated support cleaning system comprising a tank disposed within a housing and configured to circulate an aqueous cleaning solution to remove a support structure from a three-dimensional model. | 08-04-2011 |
20120018924 | MULTIPLE-ZONE LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, and a method for building a three-dimensional model with the extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier tube having multiple, independently heatable zones along a longitudinal length of the liquefier tube. | 01-26-2012 |
20120068378 | METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS WITH EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A method for building a three-dimensional model with an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system having an extrusion head, the method comprising depositing a consumable material from a liquefier assembly at an extrusion rate to substantially normalize a meniscus height within the liquefier assembly. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070523 | LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a downstream portion having a first average inner cross-sectional area, and an upstream having a second average inner cross-sectional area that is less than the first inner cross-sectional area, the upstream portion defining a shoulder configured to restrict movement of a melt meniscus of a consumable material. | 03-22-2012 |
20120150214 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BODY TISSUE SPHINCTERS AND THE LIKE - A plurality of structures that resiliently attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient around a body tissue structure of the patient. For example, the body tissue structure may be the esophagus, and the plurality of structures may be implanted in an annulus around the outside of the esophagus, the annulus being substantially coaxial with the esophagus. The attraction may be between annularly adjacent ones of the structures in the annulus, and it may be provided, for example, by magnets or springs. The array of structures is preferably self-limiting with respect to the smallest area that it can encompass, and this smallest area is preferably large enough to prevent the apparatus from applying excessive pressure to tissue passing through that area. | 06-14-2012 |
20120161350 | VOICE COIL MECHANISM FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A print head assembly that includes a receptacle supported from a carriage frame and configured to receive a print head, and a toggle mechanism configured to move the receptacle relative to the carriage frame. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162305 | PRINT HEAD FOR USE IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM - A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head includes a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162314 | PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM - A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. | 06-28-2012 |
20120164256 | PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY AND PRINT HEAD FOR USE IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM - A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly. | 06-28-2012 |
20120164330 | METHOD OF USING PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM - A method of using a print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. | 06-28-2012 |
20120258190 | RIBBON FILAMENT AND ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate. | 10-11-2012 |
20130075957 | Support Structure Removal System - A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor. | 03-28-2013 |
20130078073 | GANTRY ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A gantry assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the gantry assembly comprising a first bearing shaft, a carriage slidably engaged with the first bearing shaft, and a second bearing shaft operably supported by the carriage, the second linear bearing extending along a second axis. The gantry assembly also comprises a tool-head mount slidably engaged with the second linear bearing, a drive belt secured to the tool-head mount, a first motor having a first drive shaft engaged with the drive belt, and a second motor having a second drive shaft engaged with the drive belt. | 03-28-2013 |
20130161432 | CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY WITH PAYOUT TUBE FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising a tip end having an inlet opening, a base end having an outlet opening, and a tube body having an average effective outer diameter that is substantially greater than an effective inner diameter of the inlet opening. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161442 | SPOOL ASSEMBLY FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE THEREOF - A spool assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, comprising a spool rotatably retained in a sealed sheath in a hub-less manner, and a locking mechanism configured to operably engage with the spool to prevent the spool from rotating. | 06-27-2013 |
20130164960 | UNIVERSAL ADAPTER FOR CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY USED WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A universal adapter for use with a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the universal adapter comprising an inlet opening configured to receive a guide tube of the consumable assembly, and a connection member at the outlet end, which is configured interface with a mating panel of the additive manufacturing system. | 06-27-2013 |
20130168892 | CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS - A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube. | 07-04-2013 |
20130234366 | RIBBON LIQUEFIER AND METHOD OF USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier. | 09-12-2013 |
20130241102 | LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY HAVING INLET LINER FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a liquefier tube, a rigid sleeve secured to an inlet end of the liquefier tube, an extrusion tip secured to an outlet end of the liquefier tube, and a hollow liner disposed at least partially within the rigid sleeve such that inner surfaces of the liquefier tube and the hollow liner are substantially flush, and where the inner surface of the hollow liner has a low surface energy. | 09-19-2013 |
20130248491 | Support Structure Removal System - A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor. | 09-26-2013 |
20140048969 | PRINT HEAD NOZZLE FOR USE WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A nozzle for printing three-dimensional parts with an additive manufacturing system, the nozzle comprising a nozzle body having an inlet end and a tip end offset longitudinally from the inlet end, a tip pipe for extruding a flowable material, an inner ring extending circumferentially around the tip pipe at the outlet end, an outer ring extending circumferentially around the inner ring, at least one annular recessed groove located circumferentially between the inner ring and the outer ring. | 02-20-2014 |
20140048971 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUE FOR PRINTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS WITH PRINTED RECEIVING SURFACES - A method for printing three-dimensional parts with an additive manufacturing system, comprising printing successive layers having increasing cross-sectional areas, and printing layers of a three-dimensional part onto the previously printed layers, where a last layer of the previously printed successive layers has a cross-sectional area that is at least as large as a footprint area of the three-dimensional part. | 02-20-2014 |
20140048980 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM WITH EXTENDED PRINTING VOLUME, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising a heatable chamber with a port, a print foundation, a print head configured to print a three-dimensional part onto the print foundation in a layer-by-layer manner along a printing axis, and a drive mechanism configured to index the print foundation along the printing axis such that, while the print head prints the three-dimensional part, the print foundation and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part pass through the port and out of the heated chamber. | 02-20-2014 |
20140048981 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM WITH EXTENDED PRINTING VOLUME, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising a heatable region, a receiving surface, a print head configured to print a three-dimensional part onto the receiving surface in a layer-by-layer manner along a printing axis, and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part out of the heated region. | 02-20-2014 |
20140052287 | METHOD FOR PRINTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS USING SCAFFOLDS - A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, comprising printing the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner along a printing axis in the additive manufacturing system, printing a scaffold in a layer by layer manner along the printing axis along with the printing of the three-dimensional part, and bracing the three-dimensional part laterally relative to the printing axis with the scaffold while printing the three-dimensional part. | 02-20-2014 |
20140120194 | PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY AND PRINT HEAD FOR USE IN FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING SYSTEM - A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly. | 05-01-2014 |
20140120197 | LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a downstream portion having a first average inner cross-sectional area, and an upstream having a second average inner cross-sectional area that is less than the first inner cross-sectional area, the upstream portion defining a shoulder configured to restrict movement of a melt meniscus of a consumable material. | 05-01-2014 |
20140158802 | COIL ASSEMBLY HAVING PERMEABLE HUB - A coil assembly comprising a coil of a strand-based material retained in a figure-8 configuration, and having an inner layer and an outer layer, where the inner layer of the coil defines a core region of the coil, and where the coil is configured to unwind loop by loop beginning from the inner layer and moving towards the outer layer as the strand-based material is drawn through a payout hole. The coil assembly also comprises a permeable hub configured to reduce payout entanglement of the strand-based material. | 06-12-2014 |
20140178585 | AUTOMATED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS, PRINTING FARM THEREOF, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film, and a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film. | 06-26-2014 |
20140178588 | AUTOMATED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS, PRINTING FARM THEREOF, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film or substrate, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film or substrate. The additive manufacturing system may also include a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film. | 06-26-2014 |
20140252684 | ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR PRINTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS WITH PURGE TOWERS - A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method including printing layers of the three-dimensional part and of a support structure for the three-dimensional part from multiple print heads or deposition lines, and switching the print heads or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part and the support structure. The method also includes performing a purge operation for each print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode, where the purge operation includes printing a layer of at least one purge tower from the print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255647 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARTS HAVING INTERCONNECTED HOLLOW PATTERNS, AND METHOD FOR GENERATING AND PRINTING THEREOF - A three-dimensional part printed using an additive manufacturing technique, which includes sets of printed cell layers, each defining an array of hollow cells with wall segments, and sets of printed transition layers, each being disposed between adjacent printed cell layers, where the sets of printed transition layers each comprise sloped walls that diverge from a first portion of the wall segments and that converge towards a second portion of the wall segments to interconnect the hollow cells of adjacent printed cell layers, and where the sloped walls of adjacent printed transition layers have printing orientations that are rotated from each other in a build plane. | 09-11-2014 |
20140271967 | CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS - A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube. | 09-18-2014 |
20140336696 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BODY TISSUE SPHINCTERS AND THE LIKE - A plurality of structures that resiliently attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient around a body tissue structure of the patient. For example, the body tissue structure may be the esophagus, and the plurality of structures may be implanted in an annulus around the outside of the esophagus, the annulus being substantially coaxial with the esophagus. The attraction may be between annularly adjacent ones of the structures in the annulus, and it may be provided, for example, by magnets or springs. The array of structures is preferably self-limiting with respect to the smallest area that it can encompass, and this smallest area is preferably large enough to prevent the apparatus from applying excessive pressure to tissue passing through that area. | 11-13-2014 |
20140358273 | Platen Planarizing Process for Additive Manufacturing System - A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising generating and printing a planarizing part having a substantially-planar top surface relative to a build plane, and a bottom surface that substantially mirrors a topography of a platen surface, and printing the three-dimensional part over the substantially-planar top surface of the printed planarizing part. | 12-04-2014 |
20150084239 | RIBBON LIQUEFIER AND METHOD OF USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier. | 03-26-2015 |