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US 11,376,788 B2Granted
Apparatus for additively manufacturing an article and related tools
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsThomas A. Cote, Michael D. Roberts, Randy L. Spicer, William A. Wautlet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for additively manufacturing an article comprises a heat block, a nozzle configured to receive a feed material in operable communication with the heat block, and a radiator configured to transfer heat from the heat block to an external environment by thermal radiation. Related tools for additively manufacturing a material in a vacuum, and related methods are also disclosed.
Claims27
An apparatus for additively manufacturing an article, the apparatus comprising:
- a thermal spacer defining a feed guide to receive a feed material;
- a heat block to heat the feed material;
- a nozzle configured to receive the feed material in operable communication with the heat block;
- and
- a radiator configured to transfer heat from the heat block to an external environment by thermal radiation, the radiator having inner surfaces defining an inner dimension of the radiator, the inner dimension of the radiator larger than a largest dimension of the heat block, the inner surfaces of the radiator and an outer diameter of the thermal spacer defining an open volume between the inner surfaces of the radiator and the outer diameter of the thermal spacer.
2 more elements
A tool for additively manufacturing a material in a vacuum, the tool comprising:
- an extrusion head configured to be in operable communication with a feed material, the extrusion head comprising:
- a thermal spacer defining a feed guide to receive the feed material;
- a nozzle configured to receive the feed material from the thermal spacer;
- a heat block coupled to the nozzle;
- a heat break coupled to the heat block;
- and
- a radiator adjacent to the heat break and spaced from the heat block by the heat break, the radiator having inner surfaces defining an inner dimension of the radiator, the inner dimension of the radiator larger than a largest dimension of the heat block, the inner surfaces of the radiator and an outer diameter of the thermal spacer defining an open volume between the inner surfaces of the radiator and outer diameter of the thermal spacer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.