# US 12,179,428 B2 · Motion isolation apparatus, methods, and systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,428 B2 - Document ID: US12179428B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/826,115 - Filed: 2022-05-26 - Published: 2023-04-06 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-21 - Assignees: Pantheon Design Ltd. - Applicants: Pantheon Design Ltd. - Inventors: Alex Wiecke; Zhenwei Cao; Logan Nimmo; Casey Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179428B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/25: Housings, e.g. machine housings - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/232: for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer - 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 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - 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 Motion isolation apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed. One example is a motion isolation apparatus comprising a floating frame that maintains an alignment between a 3D printhead and a 3D print surface, the floating frame having a floating frame stiffness; and a structural frame that supports the floating frame and has a structural frame stiffness, the floating frame stiffness being greater than the structural frame stiffness so that the structural frame elastically deflects to dampen oscillating forces applied to the floating frame by the 3D printhead during printing without disrupting the alignment. Related apparatus, methods, and systems also are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motion isolation apparatus comprising: a 3D printhead; a 3D print surface that is vertically movable between a plurality of different elevations relative to the 3D printhead; a floating frame that maintains an alignment between the 3D printhead and the 3D print surface at each elevation of the plurality of different elevations, the floating frame comprising vertical guides that are rigidly attached to the floating frame and operable to guide vertical movements of the 3D print surface between the plurality of different elevations, the floating frame having a floating frame stiffness; and a structural frame that supports the floating frame and has a structural frame stiffness, the floating frame stiffness being greater than the structural frame stiffness so that the structural frame elastically deflects to dampen oscillating forces applied to the floating frame by the 3D printhead during printing without disrupting the alignment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, comprising horizontal guides that are removably attachable to the 3D printhead and operable to transfer the oscillating forces from the 3D printhead to the floating frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the horizontal guides are rigidly attached to the floating frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the floating frame comprises an opening sized to receive the 3D printhead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the horizontal guides are adjacent the opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first ends of the vertical guides are rigidly attached to the floating frame with connections that are operable to transfer bending moment forces between the floating frame and the vertical guides. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vertical guides elastically deflect responsive to the oscillating forces without disrupting the alignment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein bottom ends of the vertical guides are deflectable relative to the top ends of the vertical guides. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, comprising a bottom plate attached to bottom ends of the vertical guides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D print surface comprises sleeves that interact with the vertical guides to guide the vertical movements of the print surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein exterior surfaces of the vertical guides interact with interior surfaces of the sleeve to guide the vertical movements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the 3D print surface comprises a kinematic mount. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floating frame is flexibly attached to the structural frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floating frame is rigidly attached to the structural frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the structural frame comprises columns that are attached to the floating frame and operable to dampen the oscillating forces by deflecting elastically. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: top ends of the columns are attached to the 3D printer attachment plate with rigid connections operable to transfer bending moment forces between the floating frame; and the oscillating forces generate bending moments causing the columns to deflect elastically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, comprising a base plate attached to bottom ends of the columns. ### Claim 18 A motion isolation apparatus comprising: a floating frame that maintains an alignment between a 3D printhead and a 3D print surface that is vertically movable between a plurality of different elevations relative to the 3D printhead, the floating frame comprising vertical guides that are rigidly attached to the floating frame and operable to guide vertical movements of the 3D print surface between the plurality of different elevations and maintain the alignment at each elevation of the plurality of different elevations, the floating frame having a floating frame stiffness; and a structural frame that supports the floating frame and has a structural frame stiffness, the floating frame stiffness being greater than the structural frame stiffness so that the structural frame elastically deflects to dampen oscillating forces applied to the floating frame by the 3D printhead during printing without disrupting the alignment. ### Claim 19 A motion isolation apparatus comprising: a 3D print surface that is vertically movable between a plurality of different elevations relative to a 3D printhead; a floating frame that maintains an alignment between the 3D printhead and the 3D print surface at each elevation of the plurality of different elevations, the floating frame comprising vertical guides that are rigidly attached to the floating frame and operable to guide vertical movements of the 3D print surface between the plurality of different elevations, the floating frame having a floating frame stiffness; and a structural frame that supports the floating frame and has a structural frame stiffness, the floating frame stiffness being greater than the structural frame stiffness so that the structural frame elastically deflects to dampen oscillating forces applied to the floating frame by the 3D printhead during printing without disrupting the alignment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, comprising the 3D printhead.