Back to results
US 11,993,012 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for thermal compensation during additive manufacturing
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay, Scott G. Vaal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an extruder and a gear pump in fluid communication with extruder. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump. The extruder is connected to a guide member such that at least a portion of the extruder is configured to expand and move along the guide member according to a thermal expansion of the extruder.
Claims20
An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
- a print head including:
- an applicator head assembly including a housing and a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to deposit a flowable material;
- an extruder in fluid communication with the nozzle;
- and
- a gear pump disposed between the applicator head assembly and the extruder;
- and
- a carrier movably disposed above a worktable, the carrier configured to move to control a position of the nozzle with respect to the worktable;
- wherein the print head is fixedly connected to the carrier at the gear pump, and
- wherein the extruder is movably connected to the carrier at a linear bearing of the carrier positioned above the gear pump such that at least a portion of the extruder is capable of moving in a first direction with respect to the carrier in accordance with a thermal expansion of the extruder and the applicator head assembly is capable of moving in a second direction in accordance with a thermal expansion of the applicator head assembly with respect to the carrier opposite the first direction.
6 more elements
An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
- a print head including a nozzle configured to deposit a flowable material;
- an extruder in fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a gear pump disposed between the nozzle and the extruder;
- a carrier movably disposed above a worktable, the carrier configured to move in at least a first dimension and a second dimension to control a position of the nozzle with respect to the worktable;
- and
- a lead screw configured to expand and to compensate for thermal expansion of the extruder,
- wherein the print head is fixedly connected to the carrier at the gear pump,
- wherein the extruder is movably connected to the carrier with the lead screw at a nut, the extruder being capable of moving in a first direction with respect to the carrier in accordance with a thermal expansion of the extruder, and
- wherein the nozzle is moveable in a second direction with respect to the carrier that is opposite the first direction.
6 more elements
An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
- a print head including a nozzle configured to deposit a flowable material and an extruder in fluid communication with the nozzle;
- a carrier movably disposed above a worktable, the carrier configured to move in at least a first dimension and a second dimension to control a position of the nozzle with respect to the worktable;
- and
- a lead screw configured to expand and to compensate for thermal expansion of the extruder,
- wherein the print head is fixedly connected to the carrier at a fixed portion of the print head, the fixed portion being located between and adjacent to both the extruder and the nozzle,
- wherein a portion of the extruder opposite the nozzle is configured to move in a first direction with respect to the carrier due to thermal expansion of the extruder and the nozzle is configured to move in a second direction with respect to the carrier opposite the first direction, according to thermal expansion of the nozzle, the nozzle having a length that compensates for the thermal expansion of the nozzle, and
- wherein the extruder is configured to increase in length in the first direction away from the fixed portion of the print head.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.