Systems and methods for printing components using additive manufacturing
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Susnjara, Scott G. Vaal, Nicolas C. Vote
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a part using additive manufacturing may include receiving, at a computer numeric controlled (CNC) machine, a computer aided design (CAD) model of the part. The method may further include dividing the CAD model into plurality of sections. The method may further include slicing each of the plurality of sections into a plurality of layers. Each section may include a distinct set of print parameters. The method may further include depositing a flowable material onto a worktable according the set of print parameters for each section of the of the plurality of sections to manufacture the part.
Claims20
An additive manufacturing method, comprising:
- receiving, at an electronic device, an electronic model of a part;
- dividing the electronic model into a first section and a second section;
- selecting a first set of print parameters for the first section and a second set of print parameters for the second section, wherein the first set of print parameters includes one or more parameters that are different from the second set of print parameters, wherein at least one of the first set of print parameters or the second set of print parameters includes a pump speed parameter;
- and
- controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus including a gantry, an extruder supported on the gantry, a nozzle downstream of the extruder, and a pump secured downstream of the extruder and upstream of the nozzle to cause the additive manufacturing apparatus to deposit material onto a surface according to the first set of print parameters and the second set of print parameters to manufacture the part, the pump being controlled according to the pump speed parameter to modify a flow of the material through the nozzle to facilitate depositing the material at a temperature suitable for fusing a plurality of layers, including a first layer of the first section that fuses with a first layer of the second section.
An additive manufacturing method, comprising:
- receiving, at an electronic device, an electronic model of a part;
- defining a first section of the electronic model and a second section of the electronic model;
- selecting a first set of print parameters for the first section and a second set of print parameters for the second section, wherein the first set of print parameters includes one or more parameters that are selected by interacting with one or more graphical elements, at least one of the first set of print parameters or the second set of print parameters including at least one parameter for adjusting a corner and one or more of:
- a boundary parameter, a fill parameter, a material overlap parameter, a nozzle path parameter, an accuracy parameter that determines an accuracy with which a toolpath follows a corresponding contour of the part, a slice plane parameter, a layer spacing parameter, a material height parameter, a bead width parameter, a pump operation parameter, a height limit parameter, a start point parameter, a toolpath smoothing parameter, a clearance height parameter, a top layer parameter, a travel speed parameter, or a nozzle direction parameter;
- and
- generating a control program for controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus including a gantry, an extruder supported on the gantry, a nozzle downstream of the extruder, and a compression roller that follows the nozzle, to cause the additive manufacturing apparatus to deposit a material on a surface according to the first set of print parameters and the second set of print parameters, including the at least one parameter for adjusting the corner to manufacture the part, the part having one or more corners in which the at least one parameter for adjusting the corner is applied to avoid removing material from the one or more corners of the part with the compression roller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.