# US 10,864,674 B2 · Material processing unit controlled by rotation

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- Number: US 10,864,674 B2
- Document ID: US10864674B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/829,385
- Filed: 2017-12-01
- Published: 2018-03-22
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-15
- Assignees: Hurco Companies, Inc.
- Applicants: Hurco Companies, Inc.
- Inventors: David C. Adair; Michael Doar; Frederick W. Gross; Elias G. Pavlakos; Gregory S. Volovic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864674B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles
- G05B 19/4145: {characterised by using same processor to execute programmable controller and numerical controller function [CNC] and PC controlled NC [PCNC]}
- B23Q 2220/008: Rotatable tool holders coupled in parallel to a non rotating accessory
- B23Q 2230/002: Using the spindle for performing a non machining or non measuring operation, e.g. cleaning, actuating a mechanism
- B29C 48/02: Small extruding apparatus, e.g. handheld, toy or laboratory extruders
- B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands
- B29C 48/252: {Drive or actuation means; Transmission means; Screw supporting means}
- B29C 48/256: {Exchangeable extruder parts (B29C48/691 takes precedence)}
- B29C 48/266: {Means for allowing relative movements between the apparatus parts, e.g. for twisting the extruded article or for moving the die along a surface to be coated}
- B29C 48/269: {Extrusion in non-steady condition, e.g. start-up or shut-down}
- B29C 48/2692: {Material change}
- B29C 48/2888: {in thread form or in strip form, e.g. rubber strips}
- B29C 48/802: {Heating}
- B29C 2948/9259: Angular velocity
- B29C 2948/92885: Screw or gear
- B29C 2948/92952: Drive section, e.g. gearbox, motor or drive fluids
- G05B 2219/49077: Control of feed and spindle, cutting speed
- 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)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT

## Abstract

An interchangeable unit adapted to couple to a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine is disclosed comprising a holder that couples to a spindle of the CNC machine, a controller, wherein said controller is configured to receive the rotational speed of the spindle as an input, and a material processing unit, wherein said material processing unit executes a first function in response to a first rotational speed range of the spindle and executes a second function in response to a second rotational speed range of the spindle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An interchangeable unit adapted to couple to a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine to perform additive manufacturing in a workspace of the CNC machine, the unit comprising:
a holder that couples to a spindle of the CNC machine;
a microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller is configured to receive the rotational speed of the spindle as an input; and
an extruder coupled to the holder and in communication with the microcontroller, wherein said extruder executes a first function in response to a first rotational speed range of the spindle and executes a second function in response to a second rotational speed range of the spindle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, further comprising a filament source adapted to provide filament to the extruder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, wherein the extruder includes one or more units selected from the group consisting of: additive manufacture units, material curing units, material heating units, and material cooling units.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, further including a generator, wherein rotation of the spindle causes the generator to produce power for the extruder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, wherein the first function and second function are selected from the group consisting of: system reset, lower calibration, turn off heat, cool down, standby, reprogram settings, stay heated, change filament, change mix ratio of components, middle calibration, primary heating, secondary heating, change feed rate of components, upper calibration, cure material, heat material, cool material, and remove material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one anti rotate key, wherein the anti rotate key is configured to provide at least one operational element to the interchangeable unit from the spindle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The interchangeable unit according to claim 1, further comprising a feeder unit, wherein said feeder unit comprises an interchangeable nozzle.

### Claim 8

An extruder adapted to couple to a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine comprising:
a holder that couples to a spindle of the CNC machine; and
a generator supported by the holder that converts rotary motion of the spindle into power for the extruder, wherein the extruder provides extruded material to form a part in response to a speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The extruder according to claim 8, further comprising a filament source adapted to provide filament to the extruder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The extruder according to claim 8, further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the generator to convert the speed of rotation of the spindle into commands that control the operation of the extruder.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The extruder according to claim 8, further comprising a filament heater, wherein an operating state of the heater is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The extruder according to claim 8, further comprising a stepper motor, wherein an operating state of the stepper motor is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The extruder according to claim 8, further comprising at least one anti rotate key, wherein the anti rotate key is configured to provide at least one operational element to the extruder from the spindle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The extruder unit according to claim 8, further comprising a feeder unit, wherein said feeder unit comprises an interchangeable nozzle.

### Claim 15

A system for at least one of additive and subtractive manufacture of a part comprising:
a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine, wherein said machine includes a spindle;
an extruder, wherein the extruder provides extruded material to form a part in response to a speed of rotation of the spindle;
a generator that converts rotary motion of the spindle into power for the extruder; and
a filament source adapted to provide filament to the extruder for placement in a space to form the part.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system according to claim 15, further comprising a filament heater, wherein an operating state of the heater is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system according to claim 15, further comprising a stepper motor, wherein an operating state of the stepper motor is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system according to claim 15, further comprising at least one anti rotate key, wherein the anti rotate key is configured to provide at least one operational element to the extruder from a spindle head of the CNC machine.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system according to claim 15, further comprising a feeder unit, wherein said feeder unit comprises an interchangeable nozzle.

### Claim 20

A method of additive and subtractive manufacture of a part comprising:
providing a holder for coupling with a spindle of a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine, wherein said holder is further configured to alternatively couple with a material processing unit and a subtractive tool;
depositing material within a space to form the part with the material processing unit in response to a speed of rotation of the spindle; and
removing material from the part within the space with the subtractive tool.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, wherein the material processing unit further comprises one or more units selected from the group comprising: an extruder; a material curing unit; a material heating unit; a material cooling unit; a stepper motor; a microcontroller; a support bracket; an anti rotate key; and a direct current generator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling with a microcontroller the rotation speed of the spindle and an operating state of the material processing unit according to a program input.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, further comprising converting rotary motion of the spindle into power for the material processing unit.

### Claim 24

An extruder adapted to couple to a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine comprising:
a microprocessor that controls the operating state of the extruder according to a rotation speed of a spindle of the CNC machine, wherein the extruder provides extruded material to form a part in response to a speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The extruder according to claim 24, further comprising a holder that couples the extruder to the spindle of the CNC machine and a generator supported by the holder that converts rotary motion of the spindle into power for the extruder.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The extruder according to claim 24, further comprising a filament heater, wherein an operating state of the heater is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The extruder according to claim 24, further comprising a stepper motor, wherein an operating state of the stepper motor is controlled according to the speed of rotation of the spindle.

### Claim 28 (depends on 24)

The extruder according to claim 24, wherein at least one anti rotate key is configured to provide at least one operational element to the extruder from a spindle head of the CNC machine.

### Claim 29 (depends on 24)

The extruder unit according to claim 24, further comprising a feeder unit, wherein said feeder unit comprises an interchangeable nozzle.