Extruder, print head and apparatus for additive manufacturing
AssigneeCaracol S.R.L.
InventorsGiovanni Avallone, Paolo Cassis, Francesco De Stefano, Jacopo Gervasini, Nicolò Bordoli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extruder for additive manufacturing extends about, and along, a longitudinal axis and has an extrusion nozzle having a polygonal cross-section and a mounting member provided with: a ring configured to be mounted to a bearing coaxial to the extruder and allowing the rotation of the mounting member about the longitudinal axis; a hollow body arranged within the ring and configured to house, in part, an extrusion screw; and a plurality of spokes for connecting the hollow body to the ring so as to define compartments between the spokes-adjacent the hollow body and the ring.
Claims9
A print head for additive manufacturing, the print head comprising:
- a connecting element;
- a bearing supported by the connecting element;
- and
- an extruder mounted within the bearing and that extends along a longitudinal axis coaxially to the bearing, wherein the extruder comprises:
- a cylindrical body extending along the longitudinal axis, having a free end and defining a melting chamber,
- an extrusion screw rotatable within the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis;
- an actuator to rotate the extrusion screw;
- at least one heating element associated with the cylindrical body;
- at least one temperature probe associated with the cylindrical body;
- at least one power cable to supply power to the heating element;
- at least one signal cable for transmitting a signal acquired by the temperature probe;
- and
- an extrusion nozzle arranged at a free end of the cylindrical body and having a polygonal cross-section for extruding polymeric material;
- a polymeric mounting member made by an additive manufacturing process from polymeric material selected from polyamide with carbon fibers, PPS with carbon fibers, and/or PEEK;
- and
- a thermal break ring comprising a channel for a cooling liquid interposed between the mounting member and the cylindrical body, wherein the mounting member comprises:
- a ring configured to be mounted to the bearing and allowing the rotation of the mounting member about the longitudinal axis;
- a hollow body arranged within the ring and configured to house, in part, the extrusion screw wherein the hollow body has a first annular face configured to be connected to the actuator to rotate the extrusion screw and a second annular face configured to be connected to the thermal break ring;
- a plurality of spokes for connecting the hollow body to the ring so as to define compartments between the spokes adjacent the hollow body and the ring so as to arrange the power cable and the signal cable being in at least one of said compartments;
- and
- a tubular fitting extending from the hollow body and configured to feed pellets of polymeric material within the hollow body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.