# US 10,442,118 B2 · Closed loop 3D printing

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- Number: US 10,442,118 B2
- Document ID: US10442118B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/280,639
- Filed: 2016-09-29
- Published: 2017-03-30
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-29
- Assignees: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
- Applicants: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
- Inventors: David Grewell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10442118B2

## CPC

- B29C 35/0805: {using electromagnetic radiation}
- B29C 35/0288: {Controlling heating or curing of polymers during moulding, e.g. by measuring temperatures or properties of the polymer and regulating the process (controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physico- chemical processes in general B01J19/0006)}
- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
- B29C 64/295: Heating elements
- B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- 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 2035/0822: {using IR radiation}
- B29C 2035/0838: {using laser}
- B29K 2105/0067: {Melt}
- 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)
- 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
- 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

## Abstract

To better control part quality of 3D printed parts, the temperature of an extruder filament using a secondary heat source is provided. A heat source, such as an infrared heat source, can be used to heat the filament of a 3D printer to the optimum temperature that will enhance welding of the filament to a substrate that it is being printed on or to. Such an optimum temperature can be based upon, in part, the temperature of the substrate. A controller or other intelligent control can be used to receive temperature readings of the substrate and/or filament and then can adjust the temperature of the heating source to optimize the temperature of the filament to better combine the filament to the substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A closed loop 3D printing system, comprising:
a 3D printer including an extrusion die having a heating element;
a filament provided to the extrusion die for extruding therefrom;
a secondary heat source independent of the 3D printer for heating the filament being extruded towards a substrate, wherein said secondary heat source is positioned to heat the filament after being extruded by the extrusion die and before contacting the substrate;
said secondary heat source optimized to provide for an ideal temperature of filament being extruded to produce a high quality weld between the extruded filament and the substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein a power of the secondary heat source is determined based upon the detected temperature of the substrate to change the temperature of the filament being extruded.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further comprising an intelligent control operatively connected to the secondary heat source and the temperature sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the intelligent control receives the detected temperature from the temperature sensor and to adjust the power of the secondary heat source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising a tertiary heat source operatively connected to the intelligent control.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the tertiary heat source is directed towards the substrate to set a temperature for the substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the secondary heat source comprises an infrared heating source.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the infrared heating source is a laser.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared thermal imaging system.