# US 10,245,788 B1 · Methods and apparatus for thermal compensation during additive manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,788 B1 - Document ID: US10245788B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/896,372 - Filed: 2018-02-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-14 - Assignees: Thermwood Corporation - Applicants: Thermwood Corporation - Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245788B1 ## CPC - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/218: Rollers - B29C 64/236: for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/124: using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified - B29C 64/194: during lay-up - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2995/0012: having particular thermal properties - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A method for thermal compensation during an additive manufacturing process. In some aspects, the method may include receiving, at a CNC machine, information relating to a material used in the additive manufacturing process, wherein the received information includes at least a Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE) for the material. The method may further include modifying a distance of travel for a first pre-programmed tool path based on at least the Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for thermal compensation during an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: receiving, at a CNC machine, information relating to a material used in the additive manufacturing process, wherein the received information includes at least a Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE) for the material; and modifying a distance of travel for a first pre-programmed tool path based on at least the Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE); wherein the CNC machine includes at least one servomotor for linearly translating a nozzle along the first pre-programmed tool path; wherein rotational motion of the servomotor is configured to linearly translate the nozzle via a gearing mechanism; and wherein modifying the distance of travel for the first pre-programmed tool path includes adjusting the gearing mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material is a thermoplastic material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the additive manufacturing process is a 3D printing process. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first pre-programmed tool path includes increasing the distance of travel for the first pre-programmed tool path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the first pre-programmed tool path includes decreasing the distance of travel for the first pre-programmed tool path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: moving the nozzle of the CNC machine the modified distance of travel along the first pre-programmed tool path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying a distance of travel for a second pre-programmed tool path based on at least the Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein rotational motion of the servomotor is translated to linear motion according to a scaling factor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein modifying the distance of travel for the first pre-programmed tool path includes adjusting the scaling factor. ### Claim 10 A method for thermal compensation during an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: receiving, at a CNC machine, information relating to a material used in the additive manufacturing process, wherein the received information includes at least a Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE) for the material; and adjusting a motion of the CNC machine based on at least the CTE of the material; wherein adjusting the motion of the CNC machine includes adjusting a gearing mechanism associated with a servomotor of the CNC machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the motion of the CNC machine includes adjusting a scaling factor of the CNC machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the servomotor controls movement of a print head of the CNC machine, and wherein adjusting the motion of the CNC machine includes adjusting movement of the print head by adjusting a scaling factor of the servomotor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the material is a fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including linearly translating a nozzle of the CNC machine via the servomotor and the gearing mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the motion of the CNC machine based on at least the CTE of the material includes adjusting a distance of travel for a first pre-programmed tool path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including modifying a distance of travel for a second pre-programmed tool path based on at least the CTE of the material. ### Claim 17 A method for thermal compensation during an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising: receiving, at a CNC machine, information relating to a material used in the additive manufacturing process, wherein the received information includes at least a Coefficient for Thermal Expansion (CTE) for the material and a temperature of the environment surrounding the CNC machine; modifying a motion of a nozzle of the CNC machine based on at least the CTE of the material and the temperature of the environment surrounding the CNC machine; wherein the CNC machine includes at least one servomotor configured to linearly translate the nozzle to produce the motion; wherein rotational motion of the servomotor is configured to linearly translate the nozzle via a gearing mechanism; and wherein modifying the motion of the nozzle includes adjusting the gearing mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the motion of the CNC machine includes adjusting a scaling factor of the nozzle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the motion of the nozzle includes modifying the motion of the nozzle along more than one axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the material is a thermoplastic material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled.