A nozzle holder assembly for a three-dimensional printer comprises a mount, a printer nozzle, and a locking mechanism. The mount is operable to be secured to the three-dimensional printer. The printer nozzle shaft is movably coupled to the mount along a predetermined length. The locking mechanism is configured to fix the printer nozzle shaft relative to the mount at any position along the predetermined length.

A three-dimensional print head apparatus including a securing mechanism, a hopper, a nozzle, a barrel, and a heating system. The securing mechanism is adapted to secure to a wrist joint of a robotic arm. The hopper is secured to the securing mechanism and has a cavity and a lower aperture. The nozzle has an upper aperture and a lower aperture. The barrel has an elongate, hollow member with a first end secured to the lower aperture of the hopper and a second end secured to the upper aperture of the nozzle. The heating system is positioned along the barrel.

A device for the lithography-based additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures may comprise a building platform defining a building plane, a light engine designed for the dynamic patterning of light in an exposure field of said light engine, a material transport unit comprising a first drive mechanism for transporting a material layer across the exposure field, a second drive mechanism for causing relative movement of the light engine and the building platform along a displacement path extending parallel to the building plane, a linear encoder for sensing a position and/or a velocity of the light engine relative to the building platform, and/or one or more control units configured to adjust the feeding rate of a pattern data feeder based on the position or the velocity sensed by the linear encoder.

A device for the lithography-based additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures may comprise a building platform defining a building plane, a light engine designed for the dynamic patterning of light in an exposure field of said light engine, a material transport unit comprising a first drive mechanism for transporting a material layer across the exposure field, a second drive mechanism for causing relative movement of the light engine and the building platform along a displacement path extending parallel to the building plane, a linear encoder for sensing a position and/or a velocity of the light engine relative to the building platform, and/or one or more control units configured to adjust the feeding rate of a pattern data feeder based on the position or the velocity sensed by the linear encoder.

A 3D printer is provided that includes a print head having an extruder (stepper) motor positioned to feed a filament into a heater, a X and Y print head positioning system configured to move the print head relative to a print surface, and a stepper driver operable to control the operation of the extruder motor. In one aspect, the 3D printer further includes a sensor module having a feed rate sensor positioned to detect a feed rate of the filament, and a control system programmed to: receive signals from the sensor module that are indicative of the feed rate of the filament, and control the operation of the stepper driver based on the signals from the sensor module. In a further aspect, the X and Y positioning system includes X and Y positioning motors and X and Y encoders positioned to sense the rotation of said positioning motors. The 3D printer further including a control system programmed to: send low level commands to the positioning motors to move the print head to a target position, and receive signals from the X and Y encoders indicative of the actual position of the print head and compensate for any detected errors.

A 3D printer is provided that includes a print head having an extruder (stepper) motor positioned to feed a filament into a heater, a X and Y print head positioning system configured to move the print head relative to a print surface, and a stepper driver operable to control the operation of the extruder motor. In one aspect, the 3D printer further includes a sensor module having a feed rate sensor positioned to detect a feed rate of the filament, and a control system programmed to: receive signals from the sensor module that are indicative of the feed rate of the filament, and control the operation of the stepper driver based on the signals from the sensor module. In a further aspect, the X and Y positioning system includes X and Y positioning motors and X and Y encoders positioned to sense the rotation of said positioning motors. The 3D printer further including a control system programmed to: send low level commands to the positioning motors to move the print head to a target position, and receive signals from the X and Y encoders indicative of the actual position of the print head and compensate for any detected errors.

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed for use in fabricating a structure. The additive manufacturing system may include a support, and an outlet configured to discharge a material. The outlet may be operatively connected to and moveable by the support in a normal travel direction during material discharge. The outlet may include a guide, and a compactor operatively connected to the guide at a trailing location relative to the normal travel direction. The compactor may be moveable in an axial direction of the guide. The outlet may also include at least one cure enhancer mounted to move with the compactor relative to the guide. The at least one cure enhancer may be configured to expose the material to a cure energy.

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed for use in fabricating a structure. The additive manufacturing system may include a support, and an outlet configured to discharge a material. The outlet may be operatively connected to and moveable by the support in a normal travel direction during material discharge. The outlet may include a guide, and a compactor operatively connected to the guide at a trailing location relative to the normal travel direction. The compactor may be moveable in an axial direction of the guide. The outlet may also include at least one cure enhancer mounted to move with the compactor relative to the guide. The at least one cure enhancer may be configured to expose the material to a cure energy.

An additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method. More particularly, the disclosed in-line nozzle inspection apparatus, system and method are suitable to monitor an additive manufacturing print nozzle, and may include: at least one sensor integrated with a motion driver for the print nozzle; a plurality of imaging lenses suitable to provide a substantially complete field of view at least about a tip of the print nozzle; and a comparative engine suitable to compare the field of view state to an acceptable state of the print nozzle, and to execute a cleaning of the print nozzle if the field of view state is unacceptable.

An additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method. More particularly, the disclosed in-line nozzle inspection apparatus, system and method are suitable to monitor an additive manufacturing print nozzle, and may include: at least one sensor integrated with a motion driver for the print nozzle; a plurality of imaging lenses suitable to provide a substantially complete field of view at least about a tip of the print nozzle; and a comparative engine suitable to compare the field of view state to an acceptable state of the print nozzle, and to execute a cleaning of the print nozzle if the field of view state is unacceptable.