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US 10,703,042 B2Granted
Systems for additive manufacturing using feedstock shaping
AssigneeArevo, Inc.
InventorsArmando Armijo, Hemant Bheda, Chandrashekar Mantha, Wiener Mondesir, Sohil Nandu, Riley Reese
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for additive manufacturing wherein a fiber composite filament having an arbitrarily shaped cross section is softened and then flattened to tape-like form factor for incorporation into a part that is being additively manufactured.
Claims20
A system for additive manufacturing of at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a build substrate configured to support said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- a feed subsystem comprising a tube or motor, wherein said feed subsystem is configured to direct at least one feedstock from a source of at least one feedstock toward said build substrate, which at least one feedstock is usable for printing said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- at least one energy source configured to soften a portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- a shaper comprising a surface configured to (i) come in contact with said portion of said at least one feedstock and (ii) apply pressure to said portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said feed subsystem, said at least one energy source and said shaper, wherein said controller is configured to (i) direct said feed subsystem to direct said at least one feedstock from said source toward said build substrate such that said at least one feedstock is deposited over said build substrate, (ii) direct said at least one energy source to soften said portion of said at least one feedstock that has been deposited over said build substrate, wherein, after softening, said portion of said at least one feedstock is shapeable, and (iii) direct said shaper to press against said portion of said at least one feedstock.
3 more elements
A system for additive manufacturing of at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a build substrate configured to support said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- a feed subsystem comprising a tube or motor, wherein said feed subsystem is configured to direct at least one feedstock from a source of at least one feedstock toward said build substrate, which at least one feedstock is usable for printing said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- at least one energy source configured to soften a portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- a shaper comprising a surface configured to fi) come in contact with said portion of said at least one feedstock and (ii) apply pressure to said portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said feed subsystem, said at least one energy source and said shaper, wherein said controller is configured to (i) direct said feed subsystem to deliver, without a change in cross-sectional area, said at least one feedstock from said source toward said build substrate such that said at least one feedstock is deposited over said build substrate and (ii) direct said at least one energy source to reshape said portion of said at least one feedstock by softening or partially melting said portion of said at least one feedstock that has been deposited over said build substrate, wherein, before reshaping, said portion of said at least one feedstock has a first cross section and after reshaping, said portion of said at least one feedstock is pressed to provide a second cross section.
3 more elements
A system for additive manufacturing of at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
- a build substrate configured to support said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- a feed subsystem comprising a tube or motor, wherein said feed subsystem is configured to direct at least one feedstock from a source of at least one feedstock toward said build substrate, which at least one feedstock is usable for printing said at least said portion of said 3D object;
- at least one energy source configured to soften a portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- a shaper comprising a surface configured to (i) come in contact with said portion of said at least one feedstock and (ii) apply pressure to said portion of said at least one feedstock deposited over said build substrate;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to said feed subsystem, said at least one energy source and said shaper, wherein said controller is configured to (i) direct said feed subsystem to direct an additional feedstock toward said at least one feedstock such that said additional feedstock is deposited over said at least one feedstock, (ii) direct said at least one energy source to melt an upper portion, but not all, of said at least one feedstock, and (iii) direct said at least one energy source to melt a lower portion, but not all, of said additional feedstock that has been deposited over said at least one feedstock, wherein, after melting, said lower portion of said additional feedstock is shapeable;
- and (iv) direct said shaper to press against said additional feedstock.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.