Back to results
US 10,814,604 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for additive mechanical growth of tubular structures
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorKenneth Lyle Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for additive manufacturing and three-dimensional printing, and specifically for extruding tubular objects. A print head extrudes a curable material into a tubular object, while simultaneously curing the tubular object and utilizing the interior of the cured portion of the tubular object for stabilizing and propelling the print head.
Claims16
A method of producing a tubular shaped product, comprising:
- discharging from an additive manufacturing device a plurality of separate continuous strands adjacent to each other and arranged in a ring;
- wherein each of the plurality of separate continuous strands is encased in a curable matrix material;
- curing the curable matrix material during discharging;
- supporting a portion of the additive manufacturing device with the tubular shaped product during discharging;
- and
- propelling the additive manufacturing device during discharging,
- wherein the discharging results in a hole in a side of the tubular shaped product.
4 more elements
A method of additively manufacturing at least one tubular shaped product, comprising:
- discharging the at least one tubular shaped product out of at least one print head in an axial direction of the at least one tubular shaped product, respectively;
- supporting the at least one print head with the respective at least one tubular shaped product from a location downstream of the at least one print head and from only inside of the respective at least one tubular shaped product during discharging of the respective at least one tubular shaped product;
- and
- propelling the at least one print head during discharging of the respective at least one tubular shaped product.
1 more element
A method of producing a tubular shaped product, comprising:
- discharging from a plurality of nozzles arranged in a ring a plurality of separate continuous strands encased in a curable matrix material;
- curing the curable matrix material during discharging;
- supporting the plurality of nozzles with the tubular shaped product during discharging;
- propelling the plurality of nozzles during discharging;
- and
- coordinating the rate of discharging from the plurality of nozzles to create a turn in the tubular shaped product.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.