The present invention relates to a 3D printer printhead, a 3D printer using the same, a method for manufacturing a molded product by using the 3D printer, a method for manufacturing an artificial tooth by using the 3D printer, and a method for manufacturing a machinable glass ceramic molded product by using the 3D printer, the 3D printer printhead comprising: an inlet through which glass wire, which is a raw material, is introduced; a heating means for heating the glass wire introduced through the inlet; a melting furnace for providing a space in which the glass wire is fused; and a nozzle connected to the lower part of the melting furnace so as to temporarily store the fused glass or discharge a targeted amount of the fused glass, wherein the melting furnace includes an exterior frame made from a heat resistant material and an interior frame having a crucible shape, and the interior frame is made from platinum (Pt), a Pt alloy or graphite, which have a low contact angle, or a material having a surface coated with Pt or a diamond-like carbon (DLC) so as to prevent the fused glass from sticking thereto. According to the present invention, the molded product, the artificial tooth, and the machinable glass ceramic molded product can be manufactured with excellent mechanical properties, thermal durability, chemical durability and oxidation resistance and outstanding texture by using the glass wire as a raw material.

A glass-producing system is disclosed that includes a glass melter and a glass fining tower positioned downstream of the glass melter. The glass fining tower includes a shell, a tubular wall disposed within and surrounded by the shell, and a base receiving wall that extends inwardly from the shell to the tubular wall. The tubular wall and the base receiving wall provide an interior fining chamber within the shell. The interior fining chamber comprises an elongated vertical well that is defined by the tubular wall and has an opening that is at least partially surrounded by a glass distribution surface of the base receiving wall. The glass fining tower further includes a heater and a vacuum source operable to maintain the interior fining chamber at a subatmospheric pressure. A method of producing glass is also disclosed.

A glass-producing system is disclosed that includes a glass melter and a glass fining tower positioned downstream of the glass melter. The glass fining tower includes a shell, a tubular wall disposed within and surrounded by the shell, and a base receiving wall that extends inwardly from the shell to the tubular wall. The tubular wall and the base receiving wall provide an interior fining chamber within the shell. The interior fining chamber comprises an elongated vertical well that is defined by the tubular wall and has an opening that is at least partially surrounded by a glass distribution surface of the base receiving wall. The glass fining tower further includes a heater and a vacuum source operable to maintain the interior fining chamber at a subatmospheric pressure. A method of producing glass is also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for making a glass material are provided. The apparatus comprises a level sensor configured to measure a level of molten glass within a glass melter, a level controller operatively connected to the level sensor, a batch material sensor configured to measure a characteristic of a quantity of batch material, an estimator operatively connected to the batch material sensor, a batch fill rate controller configured to calculate a speed command, and a batch delivery device configured to fill the glass melter. The methods comprise the steps of controlling an actual batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter. The step of controlling further comprises estimating a batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter, and controlling the actual batch fill rate based on a comparison between a predetermined batch fill rate and the estimated batch fill rate.

A melter apparatus includes a floor, a ceiling, and a wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone. Melter apparatus include an exit end having a melter exit structure for discharging turbulent molten glass formed by one or more submerged combustion burners, the melter exit structure fluidly and mechanically connecting the melter vessel to a molten glass conditioning channel. The melter exit structure includes a fluid-cooled transition channel configured to form a frozen glass layer or highly viscous glass layer, or combination thereof, on inner surfaces of the fluid-cooled transition channel and thus protect the melter exit structure from mechanical energy imparted from the melter vessel to the melter exit structure.

A melter apparatus includes a floor, a ceiling, and a wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone. Melter apparatus include an exit end having a melter exit structure for discharging turbulent molten glass formed by one or more submerged combustion burners, the melter exit structure fluidly and mechanically connecting the melter vessel to a molten glass conditioning channel. The melter exit structure includes a fluid-cooled transition channel configured to form a frozen glass layer or highly viscous glass layer, or combination thereof, on inner surfaces of the fluid-cooled transition channel and thus protect the melter exit structure from mechanical energy imparted from the melter vessel to the melter exit structure.

A glass forming apparatus includes a glass delivery vessel, a forming body with a forming body inlet and a downcomer (48) between the glass delivery vessel and the forming body. The downcomer includes a downcomer tube (100) with an inlet end (110) for receiving molten glass from the glass delivery vessel and an outlet end (109) for discharging molten glass to the forming body inlet. An upper heating zone (110) and a lower heating zone (150) positioned downstream from the upper heating zone (110) encircle the downcomer tube and a lower controlled atmosphere enclosure (155) is positioned around and sealed to the downcomer tube (100) in the lower heating zone (150). The lower controlled atmosphere enclosure (155) includes at least one heating element (156) for heating molten glass flowing through the downcomer tube within the forming body inlet.

A glass forming apparatus includes a glass delivery vessel, a forming body with a forming body inlet and a downcomer (48) between the glass delivery vessel and the forming body. The downcomer includes a downcomer tube (100) with an inlet end (110) for receiving molten glass from the glass delivery vessel and an outlet end (109) for discharging molten glass to the forming body inlet. An upper heating zone (110) and a lower heating zone (150) positioned downstream from the upper heating zone (110) encircle the downcomer tube and a lower controlled atmosphere enclosure (155) is positioned around and sealed to the downcomer tube (100) in the lower heating zone (150). The lower controlled atmosphere enclosure (155) includes at least one heating element (156) for heating molten glass flowing through the downcomer tube within the forming body inlet.

Described herein are systems and methods for heating and melting glass through the use of induction based heating and methods for forming a fiberglass strand. An exemplary induction melter system for melting glass can include a melting vessel and a heated drain. The melting vessel can include a crucible, a first induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the crucible, and a first electromagnetic current generator coupled to the first induction coil. The heated drain can be coupled to the melting vessel, and the heated drain can include a drain tube, a second induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the drain tube, and a second electromagnetic current generator coupled to the second induction coil.

Described herein are systems and methods for heating and melting glass through the use of induction based heating and methods for forming a fiberglass strand. An exemplary induction melter system for melting glass can include a melting vessel and a heated drain. The melting vessel can include a crucible, a first induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the crucible, and a first electromagnetic current generator coupled to the first induction coil. The heated drain can be coupled to the melting vessel, and the heated drain can include a drain tube, a second induction coil positioned around at least a portion of the drain tube, and a second electromagnetic current generator coupled to the second induction coil.