# US 11,298,873 B2 · Near net shape additive manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,873 B2 - Document ID: US11298873B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/402,820 - Filed: 2021-08-16 - Published: 2021-12-09 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-22 - Assignees: Thermwood Corporation - Applicants: Thermwood Corporation - Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara; Brian S. Smiddy; John Fuquay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298873B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/188: involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control (surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00) - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/218: Rollers - B29C 64/236: for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/25: Housings, e.g. machine housings - B29C 64/30: Auxiliary operations or equipment - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing - B29C 2793/009: after shaping - 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 An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a horizontally-extending work surface; a vertically-extending work surface including a removable board; an applicator head including: a nozzle configured to deposit material on the vertically-extending work surface while extending horizontally; and a compression roller configured to compress the material deposited on the vertically-extending work surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board includes a plurality of pellets or beads secured thereon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is configured to face the board while depositing the material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the board is removable with respect to the horizontally-extending work surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the horizontally-extending work surface is positioned below a bottom edge of the board so as to support the material deposited on the vertically-extending work surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a bed supporting the horizontally-extending work surface and the board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extruder configured to melt thermoplastic material supplied to the nozzle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sprocket secured within a distal portion of the applicator head within which the nozzle is secured, wherein the sprocket is rotatable to position the roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the roller is secured to the sprocket with a bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material includes a thermoplastic material and a reinforcing material. ### Claim 11 An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a horizontally-extending work surface; a vertically-extending work surface; an applicator head including: a nozzle configured to deposit material on the vertically-extending work surface while extending horizontally; and a compression roller configured to compress the material deposited on the vertically-extending work surface; and a trim head moveable above the horizontally-extending work surface and configured to trim the material deposited on the vertically-extending work surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the horizontally-extending work surface comprises a support member that protrudes beyond the vertically-extending work surface when the nozzle is positioned so as to deposit the material directly on the vertically-extending work surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the vertically-extending work surface is movably coupled to the horizontally-extending work surface so as to be moveable away from the nozzle while the horizontally-extending work surface remains stationary. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the horizontally-extending work surface forms a shelf surface configured to support a bottom end of a part formed with the deposited material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vertically-extending surface includes a board having a plurality of pellets secured thereon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 15, wherein an opening of the nozzle is configured to directly face the board when depositing a first layer of the material onto the board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the horizontally-extending work surface is positioned lower than a bottom edge of the board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the board is removably connected to the horizontally-extending work surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a support wheel secured below the board. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the trim head is connected to the applicator head.