# US 11,440,258 B2 · 3D printing tool for machine tools > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,258 B2 - Document ID: US11440258B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/647,330 - Filed: 2018-08-22 - Published: 2021-05-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-14 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Andreas Haase; Karl-Heinz Smolka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440258B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/321: Feeding - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - 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 A device for coupling to a spindle of a machine tool includes a holder for coupling to the spindle of the machine tool, a conveyor element configured to convey a filament and rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a material processing unit. The material processing unit includes a gear which includes a force-receiving element configured to receive a mechanical force from the spindle and rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the conveyor element, and a force-delivery element configured to deliver to the conveyor element the mechanical force transmitted purely mechanically from the force-receiving element, with the force-receiving element being configured separately from the force-delivery element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for conveying a filament, said device comprising: a holder for coupling the device to a spindle of a machine tool; a conveyor element configured to convey the filament and rotatable about an axis of rotation; and a material processing unit comprising a combination gear having a gear train including a first gear wheel rotatable about the axis of rotation as a force-receiving element configured to receive an externally applied mechanical rotational force from the spindle, and a second gear wheel and a third gear wheel meshing with the first gear wheel and configured as force-delivery elements separately from the force-receiving element, with each of the second gear wheel and the third gear wheel connected separately via a respective worm shaft of a respective worm gear to a respective worm wheel as the conveyor element to deliver to the conveyor element the mechanical force transmitted purely mechanically from the force-receiving element, wherein the worm wheels operate as actively-driven pressure rollers conveying the filament. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the force-receiving element is configured to receive a torque from the spindle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the force-delivery element is configured to deliver the torque to the conveyor element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a delivery element, said conveyor element conveying the filament in a direction of the delivery element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the delivery element includes a nozzle, said conveyor element conveying the filament in a direction of the nozzle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a filament receptacle in prolongation of a filament-receiving means in the spindle for receiving the filament. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a heating element for heating the filament as it advances. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, further comprising a heating element for heating the filament as it advances, said heating element being arranged in the delivery element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the material processing unit is configured to form a molded part based on the filament. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a control unit and a communication interface communicating with the control unit for transmitting information to the control unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, constructed for additive manufacturing of a molded part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, constructed for fused deposition modeling of a molded part. ### Claim 13 A machine tool, comprising: a spindle; and a device configured for coupling to the spindle of a machine tool, said device comprising a holder attachable to the spindle, a conveyor element configured to convey a filament and rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a material processing unit comprising a combination gear having a gear train including a first gear wheel rotatable about the axis of rotation as a force-receiving element configured to receive an externally applied mechanical rotational force from the spindle, and a second gear wheel and a third gear wheel meshing with the first gear wheel and configured as force-delivery elements separately from the force-receiving element, with each of the second gear wheel and the third gear wheel connected separately via a respective worm shaft of a respective worm gear to a respective worm wheel as the conveyor element to deliver to the conveyor element the mechanical farce transmitted purely mechanically from the force-receiving element, wherein the worm wheels are arranged in opposing relationship and operate as actively-driven pressure rollers to convey the filament. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The machine tool of claim 13, wherein the force-receiving element of the device is configured to receive a torque from the spindle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The machine tool of claim 13, wherein the spindle includes a channel for passage of the filament, said holder including a filament receptacle in prolongation of the channel. ### Claim 16 A method for additive manufacturing for forming a molded part, comprising: transmitting a force from a spindle of a machine tool via a gear to a conveyor element for advancing a filament and rotatable about an axis of rotation; receiving the lament by a material processing unit; conveying the filament in a direction of a delivery element with the material processing unit which comprises a combination gear having a gear train including a first gear wheel rotatable about the axis of rotation as a force-receiving element configured to receive an externally applied mechanical rotational force from the spindle, and a second gear wheel and a third gear wheel meshing with the first gear wheel and configured as force-delivery elements separately from the force-receiving element, with each of the second agar wheel and the third gear wheel connected separately via a respective worm shaft of a respective worm gear to a respective worm wheel as the conveyor element to deliver to the conveyor element the mechanical force transmitted purely mechanically from the force-receiving element, wherein the worm wheels are arranged in opposing relationship and operate as actively-driven pressure rollers to convey the filament; heating the filament in the delivery element; and delivering the heated filament. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the filament is conveyed in a direction of a nozzle of the delivery element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating information about the spindle and/or filament to a control unit via a communication interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the additive manufacturing comprises fused deposition modeling.