# US 11,027,495 B2 · Object texturizer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,495 B2 - Document ID: US11027495B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/453,626 - Filed: 2019-06-26 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-26 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Andrew Hicks; Miles C. Pedrone; Tynan J. Garrett; Michael Peter Lyons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027495B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C 64/20: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B29C 64/30: Auxiliary operations or equipment - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - 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 ## Abstract A texturizer is provided and includes an extension arm and fine and gross motor controllers. The fine motor controller includes a heating element, one or more texturizing tools and a fine motor which is operable to control respective positions and orientations of the heating element and the one or more texturizing tools. The gross motor controller is interposed between the extension arm and the fine motor controller and is operable to control a position and an orientation of the fine motor controller relative to the extension arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A texturizer, comprising: an extension arm; a fine motor controller comprising a heating element, one or more texturizing tools and a fine motor which is operable to control respective positions and orientations of the heating element and the one or more texturizing tools; and a gross motor controller interposed between the extension arm and the fine motor controller and operable to control a position and an orientation of the fine motor controller relative to the extension arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The texturizer according to claim 1, further comprising a head sensor array configured to sense one or more conditions of an object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The texturizer according to claim 1, wherein the fine motor controller further comprises a tool sensor array configured to sense one or more conditions of the one or more texturizing tools. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The texturizer according to claim 1, wherein the one or more texturizing tools comprise: an additive manufacturing tool; and one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The texturizer according to claim 4, wherein the fine motor controller comprises a tool swapping system configured to position one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools in a current use position and to stow the others of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The texturizer according to claim 4, wherein the fine motor controller further comprises an additional fine motor which is operable to control movements of a currently used one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The texturizer according to claim 4, wherein the additive manufacturing tool and a currently used one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools are simultaneously operable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The texturizer according to claim 1, wherein the one or more texturizing tools comprise a smoothing tool. ### Claim 9 An additive manufacturing device, comprising: a housing comprising a printing bed; an additive manufacturing head configured to additively manufacture an object on the printing bed; and a texturizer comprising: an extension arm, which is movable relative to the printing bed; a fine motor controller comprising a heating element, one or more texturizing tools and a fine motor which is operable to control respective positions and orientations of the heating element and the one or more texturizing tools relative to the object; and a gross motor controller interposed between the extension arm and the fine motor controller and operable to control a position and an orientation of the fine motor controller relative to the extension arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the additive manufacturing head comprises: an additive manufacturing head element configured to dispense material of the object; and a curing or hardening element configured to cure or harden the material of the object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the texturizer further comprises a head sensor array configured to sense one or more conditions of an object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the fine motor controller further comprises a tool sensor array configured to sense one or more conditions of the one or more texturizing tools. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the one or more texturizing tools comprise: an additive manufacturing tool; and one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 13, wherein the fine motor controller comprises a tool swapping system configured to position one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools in a current use position and to stow the others of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 13, wherein the fine motor controller further comprises an additional fine motor which is operable to control movements of a currently used one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 13, wherein the additive manufacturing tool and a currently used one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools are simultaneously operable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The additive manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the one or more texturizing tools comprise a smoothing tool which is operable simultaneously with the additive manufacturing head. ### Claim 18 A method of operating a texturizer of an additive manufacturing device, the method comprising: positioning a fine motor controller relative to an object, the fine motor controller comprising a heating element, an additive manufacturing tool and one or more subtractive manufacturing tools; positioning one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools in a current use position and stowing the others of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools; and operating at least one of the heating element, the additive manufacturing tool and the one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools in the current use position in accordance with a texturizing algorithm for the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the operating comprises simultaneously operating the heating element, the additive manufacturing tool and the one of the one or more subtractive manufacturing tools in the current use position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein: the fine motor controller comprises a smoothing tool, and the method further comprises operating the smoothing tool simultaneously with an additive manufacturing head of the additive manufacturing device.