Methods and apparatus for processing and dispensing material during additive manufacturing

An additive manufacturing method comprising:

• actuating an extruder of an additive manufacturing machine to extrude a flowable material to a gear pump, wherein actuating the extruder includes rotating an extruder screw of the extruder at a first speed;
• actuating the gear pump to convey the flowable material to an applicator head, wherein actuating the gear pump includes rotating one or more gears of the gear pump at a second speed;
• delivering the material from the applicator head onto a surface;
• moving the applicator head along at least one of a plurality of axes at a first velocity;
• and
• modifying the first speed and the second speed, by a controller, based on an increase or a decrease in the first velocity to deposit a bead of material having stable dimensions.

An additive manufacturing method comprising:

• operating an extruder of an additive manufacturing machine at a first speed to extrude a flowable material to a gear pump;
• operating the gear pump at a second speed to convey the flowable material to a nozzle;
• depositing the flowable material through the nozzle onto a surface;
• moving the nozzle along at least one of a plurality of axes;
• adjusting the second speed based on an increase or decrease in a rate of the movement of the nozzle;
• and
• adjusting the first speed based on the adjusted second speed to deposit a bead of material having stable dimensions.