Method of printing a hollow part with a robotic additive manufacturing system
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorClint Newell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of printing a hollow part with a robotic additive manufacturing system includes extruding thermoplastic material onto a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom in a helical pattern along a continuous 3D tool path with an extruder mounted on a robotic arm, to thereby print a hollow member having a length and a diameter. The method includes orienting the hollow member during printing by moving the build platform based on a geometry of the hollow member wherein the movement of the build platform and the movement of the robotic arm are synchronized to print the part without support structures.
Claims20
A method of printing a hollow part with a robotic additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- extruding thermoplastic material onto a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom, the extruding performed in a helical pattern along a continuous 3D tool path with an extruder mounted on a robotic arm so as to print a near-net, elongated hollow member having a length and a diameter following a complex curvature;
- and
- orienting the hollow member during said printing by moving the build platform in more than one degree of freedom based on a geometry of the hollow member, wherein the movement of the build platform and a movement of the robotic arm are synchronized to print the hollow member to comprise overhanging or free-space segments without support structures.
A method of printing a hollow part with a robotic additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- printing a near-net, elongated hollow member having a length and a diameter following a complex curvature by extruding thermoplastic material onto a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom, the extruding performed along a first 3D tool path in a continuous helical pattern with an extruder mounted on a robotic arm;
- conformally printing a second member onto the hollow member by extruding thermoplastic material onto a surface of the hollow member along a second 3D tool path, wherein the second 3D toolpath follows a contact edge between the second member and the hollow member;
- and
- orienting the hollow member during said printing and conformal printing by moving the build platform based on a geometry of the hollow member and the second member, wherein the movement of the build platform and a movement of the robotic arm are synchronized to print the hollow member to comprise overhanging or free-space segments without support structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.