# US 10,500,830 B2 · Method and apparatus for 3D fabrication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,830 B2 - Document ID: US10500830B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/812,940 - Filed: 2015-07-29 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-29 - Assignees: nScrypt, Inc. - Applicants: nScrypt, Inc. - Inventors: Kenneth H. Church; Josh Goldfarb; Michael W. Owens; Xudong Chen; Paul Deffenbaugh; Daniel Silva; Charles Michael Newton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500830B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - B29C 48/2566: {Die parts} - B29C 48/25686: {for dies} - B29C 48/2886: {of fillers or of fibrous materials, e.g. short-fibre reinforcements} - B29C 48/865: {Heating} - B29C 48/872: {characterised by differential heating or cooling} - B29C 48/873: {in the direction of the stream of the material} - 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 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29K 2101/10: Thermosetting resins - B29K 2105/251: {Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046)} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - 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 An apparatus for use in 3D fabrication includes a heat sink, a melt tube extending through the heat sink, the melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for melting filament or other material as the material is conveyed from the first end to the second end, a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material, the pen tip at the second end of the melt tube, and a pen tip holder for securely holding the pen tip during printing, the pen tip holder having a heater element associated therewith. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for use in 3-D fabrication, the apparatus comprising: a heat sink configured to dissipate heat; a melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for heating a material as the material is conveyed between the first end and the second end; a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material; and a pen tip holder configured to securely hold the pen tip, the pen tip holder disposed apart from the heat sink, the pen tip holder having a heater element; wherein the melt tube comprises a thin walled section such that only the melt tube of the apparatus extends between the heat sink and the pen tip holder for a distance thereby forming a heat break; wherein the pen tip is inserted into the pen tip holder and over the second end of the melt tube and wherein the pen tip holder is threadably secured to the melt tube to thereby hold the pen tip in position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pen tip, the pen tip holder, and the heater element form an integrated part with the heater element conformally printed on the pen tip or pen tip holder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cooling unit for cooling the first end of the melt tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cooling unit comprises a fan to provide forced air cooling of the first end of the melt tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the melt tube is comprised of metal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the melt tube comprises a stainless steel tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pen tip has a cone-shaped profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a body wherein portions of the apparatus are disposed within the body and wherein wiring is printed on a side of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pen tip comprises a ceramic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heater element comprises a heater stick positioned within the pen tip holder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heater element comprises a heater coil positioned within the pen tip holder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cooling unit to selectively cool a portion of the apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating system configured to selectively heat a portion of a build unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the heating system comprises a laser, an infrared heat source, or an ultrasonic wave generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material comprises filaments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the filaments comprise plastic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material comprises metal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material comprises powder. ### Claim 19 An apparatus for use in 3-D fabrication, the apparatus comprising: a heat sink configured to dissipate heat; a melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for heating a material as the material is conveyed between the first end and the second end; a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material; a pen tip holder configured to securely hold the pen tip, the pen tip holder disposed apart from the heat sink, the pen tip holder having a heater element associated therewith; and a heat break consisting of a thin walled section of the melt tube in between the heat sink and the pen tip holder, the heat break acting as a thermal choke to reduce heat transferred to the heat sink; wherein the pen tip is inserted into the pen tip holder and over the second end of the melt tube and wherein the pen tip holder is threadably secured to the melt tube to thereby hold the pen tip in position.