Spool assembly with locking mechanism for additive manufacturing system, and methods of use thereof

A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:

• providing a spool assembly comprising a rotatable spool with a filament supply thereon and having a locking mechanism configured to engage with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool during transport or storage of the spool assembly;
• engaging the locking mechanism with the spool to prevent rotation of the spool;
• inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system wherein the locking mechanism engages with a surface of the bay to disengage the locking mechanism from the spool;
• and
• feeding the filament to a print head retained by the additive manufacturing system by rotating spool after the locking mechanism is disengaged from the spool while the spool is in the bay of the additive manufacturing system.

A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:

• providing a spool assembly comprising a spool retaining a filament, wherein the spool is retained within a sealed sheath that defines a barrier for the retained spool;
• engaging the spool with a locking mechanism of the spool assembly to prevent rotation of the spool assembly;
• inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system;
• contacting the locking mechanism with a surface of the bay while inserting the spool assembly into the bay;
• and
• displacing the contacted locking mechanism with the surface of the bay while inserting the spool assembly into the bay to disengage to the locking mechanism from the spool;
• and
• feeding filament from the spool to a print head retained by the additive manufacturing system by rotating the spool within the sealed sheath after the locking mechanism is disengaged from the spool.

A method for loading a spool assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:

• providing a spool assembly comprising a spool retaining a filament, wherein the spool is retained within a sealed sheath of the spool assembly that defines a barrier for the retained spool;
• engaging the spool with a locking mechanism of the spool assembly to prevent the spool from rotating in the sealed sheath;
• inserting the spool assembly into a bay of the additive manufacturing system, which disengages the locking mechanism in a hands-free manner;
• removing the spool assembly from the bay of the additive manufacturing system;
• and
• operably re-engaging the locking arm with the spool of the removed spool assembly.