An extrusion-based production system (300), comprising: a filament roll with a thermoplastic filament (2); at least one assembly with: an entrance (3) for receiving the filament; an exit (4) for delivering the filament, a channel (5) between the entrance and exit; a first and second rotatable component (10, 20), respectively rotatable about a first/second axis (12, 22), and having first/second external ridges (11, 21), wherein, when a filament is introduced into the channel, and the at least one assembly is rotated with respect to the filament (2), the rotatable components rotate about their respective axis, and the axes move about the filament such that the components mainly roll over the filament, and the external ridges (11) penetrate at least partially into the filament (2). A method for feeding a thermoplastic filament.

An extrusion-based production system (300), comprising: a filament roll with a thermoplastic filament (2); at least one assembly with: an entrance (3) for receiving the filament; an exit (4) for delivering the filament, a channel (5) between the entrance and exit; a first and second rotatable component (10, 20), respectively rotatable about a first/second axis (12, 22), and having first/second external ridges (11, 21), wherein, when a filament is introduced into the channel, and the at least one assembly is rotated with respect to the filament (2), the rotatable components rotate about their respective axis, and the axes move about the filament such that the components mainly roll over the filament, and the external ridges (11) penetrate at least partially into the filament (2). A method for feeding a thermoplastic filament.

A filament drive mechanism for use with an additive manufacturing system includes at least first and second drives. Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft engaged with the first rotatable shaft in a counter rotational configuration. Each drive includes a pair of filament engagement elements, one on each rotatable shaft, and positioned on opposing sides of the filament path with a gap therebetween so as to engage a filament provided in the filament path. The drive mechanism includes a bridge follower configured to rotatably couple the first drive to the second drive wherein one of the shafts 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 will engage a filament in the filament path and will coordinate to advance the filament while counter-rotating at the same rotational rate to drive the filament into a liquefier.

A filament drive mechanism for use with an additive manufacturing system includes at least first and second drives. Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft engaged with the first rotatable shaft in a counter rotational configuration. Each drive includes a pair of filament engagement elements, one on each rotatable shaft, and positioned on opposing sides of the filament path with a gap therebetween so as to engage a filament provided in the filament path. The drive mechanism includes a bridge follower configured to rotatably couple the first drive to the second drive wherein one of the shafts 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 will engage a filament in the filament path and will coordinate to advance the filament while counter-rotating at the same rotational rate to drive the filament into a liquefier.

A device for imparting a torsional force onto a wire has a base and a support mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the base around an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation coincides with a wire path extending through the base and the support. Further, a wire clutching device is mounted on the support and adapted to engage at a wire guided along the wire path, and a rotation mechanism is provided which is adapted for rotating the support with respect to the base.

An extrusion-based production system, comprising: a filament roll with a filament; at least one assembly with: an entrance for receiving the filament; an exit for delivering the filament, a channel between the entrance and exit; a first and second rotatable component, respectively rotatable about a first/second axis, and having first/second external ridges, wherein, when a filament is introduced into the channel, and the at least one assembly is rotated with respect to the filament, the rotatable components rotate about their respective axis, and the axes move about the filament such that the components mainly roll over the filament, and the external ridges penetrate at least partially into the filament. A method for feeding a filament.

An extrusion-based production system, comprising: a filament roll with a filament; at least one assembly with: an entrance for receiving the filament; an exit for delivering the filament, a channel between the entrance and exit; a first and second rotatable component, respectively rotatable about a first/second axis, and having first/second external ridges, wherein, when a filament is introduced into the channel, and the at least one assembly is rotated with respect to the filament, the rotatable components rotate about their respective axis, and the axes move about the filament such that the components mainly roll over the filament, and the external ridges penetrate at least partially into the filament. A method for feeding a filament.

The wire feeding device that feeds welding wire W from the wire source to the welding torch is disposed between the wire source and the welding torch and is configured to temporarily accommodate the welding wire W fed from the wire source and to feed the accommodated welding wire W to the welding torch. In the case where feeding of welding wire W is abnormally stopped, if the acceptance unit accepts instructions for increasing or decreasing, the wire feeding device controls the speed of feeding welding wire W fed by the first feeding part or the second feeding part so that a difference is generated in the feeding speed of the first feeding part and the second feeding part and the accommodated amount of welding wire W is in a range from the lower limit of normal to an upper limit of normal.

The wire feeding device that feeds welding wire W from the wire source to the welding torch is disposed between the wire source and the welding torch and is configured to temporarily accommodate the welding wire W fed from the wire source and to feed the accommodated welding wire W to the welding torch. In the case where feeding of welding wire W is abnormally stopped, if the acceptance unit accepts instructions for increasing or decreasing, the wire feeding device controls the speed of feeding welding wire W fed by the first feeding part or the second feeding part so that a difference is generated in the feeding speed of the first feeding part and the second feeding part and the accommodated amount of welding wire W is in a range from the lower limit of normal to an upper limit of normal.

An apparatus and methods for pushing conductors into conduit and other structures are disclosed. The apparatus (“pusher”) can include rollers to apply a pushing force to one or more conductors or bundles of conductors. One or more rollers can be coupled to a drive mechanism. The pusher is configured to pull conductors or bundles of conductors off of one or more spools, and push the conductors or bundles of conductors without de-bundling or sorting the conductors. The conductors can be fed through the pusher in any format including side-by-side, vertical on top of one another, twisted together, or other formats. The pusher can include a guiding device that is configured to route the conductors from the pusher to a conduit through which the conductors are being pushed or pulled.