Patent classifications
B29C64/236
Integrated box-type 3D printing device with a foldable printer body
An integrated box-type 3D printing device, having a support structure, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a printer body. The first bracket is movable back and forth in a first direction on the support structure. The printer body is arranged on the second bracket. The second bracket is movable back and forth in a second direction relative to the first bracket. The printer body is movable back and forth in a third direction on the second bracket. The support structure is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the second bracket. The second bracket is foldable in the opposite direction to the third direction so that the second bracket is foldable into the accommodating space so that the integrated box-type 3D printing device assumes a transport and storage configuration when the second bracket is folded into the accommodating space.
Integrated box-type 3D printing device with a foldable printer body
An integrated box-type 3D printing device, having a support structure, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a printer body. The first bracket is movable back and forth in a first direction on the support structure. The printer body is arranged on the second bracket. The second bracket is movable back and forth in a second direction relative to the first bracket. The printer body is movable back and forth in a third direction on the second bracket. The support structure is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the second bracket. The second bracket is foldable in the opposite direction to the third direction so that the second bracket is foldable into the accommodating space so that the integrated box-type 3D printing device assumes a transport and storage configuration when the second bracket is folded into the accommodating space.
RESIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy in a patterned image. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A resin management system includes a material deposition assembly upstream configured to deposit a resin on a resin support. The material deposition assembly includes a reservoir configured to retain a first volume of the resin and define a thickness of the resin on the resin support as the resin support is translated in an X-axis direction. The material deposition assembly further includes a vessel positioned above the reservoir in a Z-axis direction and configured to store a second volume of the resin. In addition, the material deposition assembly includes a conduit configured to direct the resin from the vessel to the reservoir.
METHOD OF MOVING A PRINT HEAD BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PARTITIONED CHAMBERS IN AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
A method of moving a print head between a plurality of partitioned chambers in a 3D printer includes providing the 3D printer having a thermal barrier having an area defined by a length and width, wherein a print head nozzle can be positioned through the thermal barrier along the width or the length and at least two partitioned chambers below the area of the thermal barrier, wherein a first chamber comprises a printing chamber and a second chamber comprises a chamber providing another functionality. The method includes raising the print head in a z direction from the second chamber to above the thermal barrier and moving the print head in a x-y direction from above the second chamber over the partition to a location above the first chamber. The method also includes lowering the print head in the z direction and into the first chamber such that an extrusion port of a nozzle of the print head is proximate a x-y print plane.
METHOD OF MOVING A PRINT HEAD BETWEEN A PLURALITY OF PARTITIONED CHAMBERS IN AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
A method of moving a print head between a plurality of partitioned chambers in a 3D printer includes providing the 3D printer having a thermal barrier having an area defined by a length and width, wherein a print head nozzle can be positioned through the thermal barrier along the width or the length and at least two partitioned chambers below the area of the thermal barrier, wherein a first chamber comprises a printing chamber and a second chamber comprises a chamber providing another functionality. The method includes raising the print head in a z direction from the second chamber to above the thermal barrier and moving the print head in a x-y direction from above the second chamber over the partition to a location above the first chamber. The method also includes lowering the print head in the z direction and into the first chamber such that an extrusion port of a nozzle of the print head is proximate a x-y print plane.
3D PRINTER WITH A PLURALITY OF PARTITIONED CHAMBERS
A 3D printer includes a gantry configured to move in a plane and in a direction substantially normal to the plane and at least one print head carried by the gantry, the at least on print head comprising an extrusion nozzle at a bottom end. The 3D printer includes a plurality of partitioned chambers accessible by the at least one print head, each of the partitioned chambers having an upper edge defining an opening into each of the plurality of chambers, and a platen within a first chamber of the plurality of chambers, the platen configured to receive material from the print head to print the 3D part. The at least one print head is configured to be moved between each of the plurality of partitioned chambers by raising the print head in the direction substantially normal to the plane such that the extrusion nozzle is above the upper edge of the plurality of chambers, moving the print head in the plane from a first location above the first chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers to a second location above a second chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers and lowering the at least one print head into the second chamber.
3D PRINTER WITH A PLURALITY OF PARTITIONED CHAMBERS
A 3D printer includes a gantry configured to move in a plane and in a direction substantially normal to the plane and at least one print head carried by the gantry, the at least on print head comprising an extrusion nozzle at a bottom end. The 3D printer includes a plurality of partitioned chambers accessible by the at least one print head, each of the partitioned chambers having an upper edge defining an opening into each of the plurality of chambers, and a platen within a first chamber of the plurality of chambers, the platen configured to receive material from the print head to print the 3D part. The at least one print head is configured to be moved between each of the plurality of partitioned chambers by raising the print head in the direction substantially normal to the plane such that the extrusion nozzle is above the upper edge of the plurality of chambers, moving the print head in the plane from a first location above the first chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers to a second location above a second chamber of the plurality of partitioned chambers and lowering the at least one print head into the second chamber.
ROBOTIC SYSTEMS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
- Andriy Sherehiy ,
- Dan O. Popa ,
- Danming Wei ,
- Andrew Scott Nimon ,
- Moath Hasan Alqatamin ,
- Alireza Tofangchi ,
- Keng Hsu ,
- Kevin Walsh ,
- Cindy Harnett ,
- Thad Druffel ,
- Dilan Ratnayake ,
- Alexander Curry ,
- Sushmita Challa ,
- Amir Hossein Ghahremani ,
- Doug Jackson ,
- Ruoshi Zhang ,
- Antoine Blasiak ,
- M. Hossein Saadatzi ,
- Garrett McGrady
Systems and methods for additive manufacturing. In some examples, a system includes a frame defining an interior volume and an overhead robotic arm suspended from a gantry on a ceiling of the frame. The system includes manufacturing subsystems located within the interior volume of the frame. The system includes a control system configured for controlling the overhead robotic arm for parts movement among additive manufacturing processes using the manufacturing subsystems. The manufacturing subsystems can include one or more of: a microassembly station, an aerosol jetting print station, an intense pulsed light (IPL) photonic sintering station, a fiber weaving station, and a 3D printing station.
ROBOTIC SYSTEMS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
- Andriy Sherehiy ,
- Dan O. Popa ,
- Danming Wei ,
- Andrew Scott Nimon ,
- Moath Hasan Alqatamin ,
- Alireza Tofangchi ,
- Keng Hsu ,
- Kevin Walsh ,
- Cindy Harnett ,
- Thad Druffel ,
- Dilan Ratnayake ,
- Alexander Curry ,
- Sushmita Challa ,
- Amir Hossein Ghahremani ,
- Doug Jackson ,
- Ruoshi Zhang ,
- Antoine Blasiak ,
- M. Hossein Saadatzi ,
- Garrett McGrady
Systems and methods for additive manufacturing. In some examples, a system includes a frame defining an interior volume and an overhead robotic arm suspended from a gantry on a ceiling of the frame. The system includes manufacturing subsystems located within the interior volume of the frame. The system includes a control system configured for controlling the overhead robotic arm for parts movement among additive manufacturing processes using the manufacturing subsystems. The manufacturing subsystems can include one or more of: a microassembly station, an aerosol jetting print station, an intense pulsed light (IPL) photonic sintering station, a fiber weaving station, and a 3D printing station.
DRIVE SYSTEM FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy toward the stage. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A feed module is configured to support a feed roll of a resin support upstream of the stage about a feed mandrel. A first control device is operably coupled with the feed mandrel. A take-up module is configured to support a take-up roll of the resin support downstream of the stage about a take-up mandrel. A second control device is operably coupled with the take-up mandrel. A computing system is operably coupled with one or more sensors. The computing system is configured to provide commands to at least one of the first control device or the second control device to respectively rotate the first control device or the second control device to obtain a target tension on the resin support.