US 12,179,426 B2 · Material dispensing pump for additive fabrication

Abstract

Techniques to allow an additive fabrication device to dynamically adjust the size of a post metering volume for adjusting pressure of source material in the volume. These techniques may allow for greater control of material extrusion through an orifice and thereby mitigate or avoid issues of lag time between starting and/or stopping extrusion and/or in which there is unwanted emission of source material through the orifice. In some cases, techniques for adjusting the size of the post metering volume may include operating an actuator arranged in a channel that is coupled to the post metering volume. In some cases, techniques for adjusting the size of the post metering volume may include having a stator that is at least partially arranged within a chamber that defines the post metering volume and is free to move within the chamber.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An additive fabrication device configured to form parts from a source material on a build platform, the additive fabrication device comprising:

a build platform;
a motion system configured to move along at least one axis;
and
a material deposition mechanism coupled to the motion system and configured to deposit a source material onto the build platform, the material deposition mechanism comprising:
a chamber comprising an orifice;
a stator arranged at least partially within the chamber and free to move between first and second positions within the chamber;
and
a pump actuator arranged at least partially within the stator and configured, when operated, to:
drive the source material in a first direction through the stator, and through the chamber and out of the orifice, and
drive motion of the stator within the chamber in the first direction.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Material dispensing pump for additive fabrication

Life of this patent

Material dispensing pump for additive fabrication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13