Apparatus and method for thermal compensation during additive manufacturing
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay, Scott G. Vaal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an extruder and a gear pump in fluid communication with extruder. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump. The extruder is connected to a guide member such that at least a portion of the extruder is configured to expand and move along the guide member according to a thermal expansion of the extruder.
Claims18
A method for additive manufacturing using an additive manufacturing apparatus including an extruder, a gear pump, and a nozzle, the method comprising:
- heating the extruder to an operating temperature;
- melting a thermoplastic material in the extruder;
- receiving the melted thermoplastic material with the gear pump downstream of the extruder;
- and
- allowing the extruder to expand relative to the nozzle due to an expansion of the extruder as a result of the heat, wherein, while the extruder is allowed to expand, the gear pump is secured to a fixed position on a carrier that carries the extruder and the gear pump.
An additive manufacturing method, comprising:
- heating a thermoplastic material within an extruder of an additive manufacturing apparatus;
- receiving the thermoplastic material with a gear pump downstream of the extruder;
- providing the thermoplastic material to a nozzle of the additive manufacturing apparatus via the gear pump;
- moving the nozzle of the additive manufacturing apparatus to deposit the thermoplastic material;
- and
- allowing a portion of a vertical motion assembly to expand in a vertical direction such that the portion of the vertical motion assembly moves away from the nozzle, wherein, while the vertical motion assembly is allowed to expand, the gear pump is secured to a fixed position on a carrier that carries the extruder and the gear pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.