Apparatus, system and method for in-line additive manufacturing nozzle inspection
Assignee3D Print Innovations, LLC
InventorsScott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An additive manufacturing apparatus, system, and method. More particularly, the disclosed in-line nozzle inspection apparatus, system and method are suitable to monitor an additive manufacturing print nozzle, and may include: at least one sensor integrated with a motion driver for the print nozzle; a plurality of imaging lenses suitable to provide a substantially complete field of view at least about a tip of the print nozzle; and a comparative engine suitable to compare the field of view state to an acceptable state of the print nozzle, and to execute a cleaning of the print nozzle if the field of view state is unacceptable.
Claims18
An in-line nozzle inspection system suitable to monitor an additive manufacturing print nozzle, comprising:
- at least one sensor integrated with a motion driver for the print nozzle;
- a plurality of imaging lenses comprising:
- two indirect reflective lenses on a first side of the print nozzle;
- and
- three direct reflective lens portions on an opposing side of the print nozzle, wherein the three direct reflective lens portions align with the at least one sensor, the three direct reflective lens portions comprising:
- an outer two of the direct reflective lens portions that are aligned with the two indirect reflective lenses;
- the plurality of imaging lenses configured to provide a substantially complete 360-degree field of view at least about a tip of the print nozzle to the at least one sensor;
- and
- a comparative engine suitable to compare the field of view state received by the at least one sensor to a clean state of the print nozzle, and to execute a cleaning of the print nozzle if the field of view comparison indicates an unclean state of the print nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.