Additive manufacturing apparatus

An additive manufacturing system comprising:

• an extruder configured to emit an extrusion material from one or more nozzles;
• a planar member positioned opposite the extruder to receive emitted extrusion material from the extruder;
• an object transport positioned opposite from the planar member so the planar member is between the extruder and the object transport;
• a plurality of actuators, at least one actuator being operatively connected to the object transport, at least one actuator being operatively connected to the extruder, and at least one actuator being operatively connected to the planar member;
• a pair of heaters positioned within the planar member, one heater is positioned to heat one surface of the planar member that is parallel to a plane in which the extruder moves and the other heater is positioned to heat an opposite surface of the planar member that is also parallel to the plane in which the extruder moves;
• and
• an electrical power supply operatively and independently connected to the two heaters;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the plurality of actuators and the extruder, the controller being configured to:
• operate the at least one actuator operatively connected to the extruder to move the extruder in the plane parallel to the planar member and operate the extruder while the extruder is moving to emit extrusion material from the nozzles of the extruder to form layers of an object on the planar member;
• operate the at least one actuator operatively connected to the planar member to rotate the planar member about an axis that is parallel to the plane of extruder movement to enable gravity to release the object from the planar member so the object lands on the object transport;
• operate the at least one actuator operatively connected to the object transport to displace the object from a position opposite the planar member;
• and
• operate the electrical power supply selectively to connect the one heater to electrical power to heat the planar member to a temperature that releases the object from the planar member after the planar member has been rotated and when the object is formed on the one surface of the planar member and to connect the other heater to electrical power after the planar member is rotated and when the object is formed on the opposite surface of the planar member.