# US 2018/0022022 A1 · Method and apparatus for additive mechanical growth of tubular structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022022 A1 - Document ID: US20180022022A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/723,010 - Filed: 2017-10-02 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-29 - Assignees: Cc3D LLC - Applicants: Cc3D LLC - Inventors: KENNETH LYLE TYLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022022A1 ## CPC - B29C 70/525: {Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations} - B29C 48/00: Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor (extrusion blow-moulding B29C49/04) - B29C 48/02: Small extruding apparatus, e.g. handheld, toy or laboratory extruders - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - 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 70/382: {Automated fiber placement [AFP]} - B29C 70/388: {Tape placement heads, e.g. component parts, details or accessories} - B29C 70/522: {the transport direction being vertical} - B29C 70/524: {the transport direction being vertical} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B05B 3/001: {incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed} - B05B 12/1481: {comprising pigs, i.e. movable elements sealingly received in supply pipes, for separating different fluids, e.g. liquid coating materials from solvent or air (cleaning pipes with pigs B08B9/0557, pigs per se F16L55/26)} - B05B 13/06: specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies (spray heads B05B1/00 - B05B7/00; {devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders, from inside the pipe F16L55/162; sprayed layers of rubber or plastics for internal protection of pipes or pipe fittings against corrosion or incrustation F16L58/1027}) - B05B 13/0627: {Arrangements of nozzles or spray heads specially adapted for treating the inside of hollow bodies (B05B13/0645 takes precedence)} - B05B 13/0636: {by means of rotatable spray heads or nozzles} - B05D 1/02: performed by spraying - B05D 7/222: {of pipes} - B05D 2254/04: Applying the material on the interior of the tube - B29C 48/022: {characterised by the choice of material} - B29C 70/38: Automated lay-up, e.g. using robots, laying filaments according to predetermined patterns {(application heads for tyres B29D30/28)} - B29D 23/001: {Pipes; Pipe joints (pleated hoses B29D23/18)} - B29L 2023/00: Tubular articles (B29L2024/00 takes precedence {; catheters B29L2031/7542}) - F16L 13/11: using materials which fill the space between parts of a joint before hardening - F16L 55/1645: a sealing material being introduced inside the pipe by means of a tool moving in the pipe - F16L 55/28: Constructional aspects - F16L 55/32: being self-contained - 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 - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for additive manufacturing and three-dimensional printing, and specifically for extruding tubular objects. A print head extrudes a curable material into a tubular object, while simultaneously curing the tubular object and utilizing the interior of the cured portion of the tubular object for stabilizing and propelling the print head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a tubular shaped product, comprising: discharging a solid strand material encased in a curable matrix material from an additive manufacturing device; curing the curable matrix material during discharging; supporting a portion of the additive manufacturing device with the tubular shaped product during discharging; and propelling the additive manufacturing device during discharging. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein curing the curable matrix material includes exposing the curable matrix material to at least one of ultraviolet light, heat, a chemical agent, a laser beam, and a sonic vibration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including at least one of rotating the additive manufacturing device and adjusting an angle of the additive manufacturing device during discharging. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including coordinating at least one of a rate of the discharging and a rate of the propelling to adjust an axial trajectory of the tubular shaped product. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the tubular shaped product includes discharging a ring of composite material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the tubular shaped product includes discharging a plurality of separate continuous strands adjacent to each other and arranged in a ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including selectively inhibiting discharging of at least one of the plurality of separate continuous strands, such that a wall opening is formed in the tubular shaped product. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including moving at least one of a discharge location and a discharge angle of at least one of the plurality of separate continuous strands to thereby adjust at least one of a diameter and a pattern of the tubular shaped product. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including starting fabrication of the tubular shaped product from a stationary anchor, wherein discharging the solid strand material includes discharging the solid strand material onto an axial end of the stationary anchor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein discharging the solid strand material encased in the curable matrix material includes discharging the solid strand material in a direction opposite to a direction of the propelling. ### Claim 11 A method of additively manufacturing a tubular shaped product, comprising: discharging the tubular shaped product out of at least one nozzle in an axial direction of the tubular shaped product; supporting the at least one nozzle with the tubular shaped product during discharging of the tubular shaped product; and propelling the at least one nozzle during discharging of the tubular shaped product. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein discharging the tubular shaped product includes discharging a solid strand material that is at least partially encased in a curable matrix material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further including exposing the curable matrix material in the tubular shaped product to cure energy as the tubular shaped product discharges from the at least one nozzle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: the curable matrix material includes a UV curable liquid resin; and exposing the curable matrix material to cure energy includes exposing the UV curable liquid resin to UV light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: the curable matrix material includes a powdered metal; and exposing the curable matrix material to cure energy includes exposing the curable matrix material to an energy source that sinters the powdered metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein discharging the tubular shaped product includes discharging the tubular shaped product in a direction opposite to a direction of the propelling. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: propelling the at least one nozzle further includes transferring motion of a gripping device to the at least one nozzle via a shaft; and the method further includes rotating the at least one nozzle about the shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein supporting the at least one nozzle includes supporting the at least one nozzle inside of the tubular shaped product. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including supplying at least one of power, control communications, and material to the at least one nozzle from a remote mobile base station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein: supplying at least one of power, control communications, and material to the at least one nozzle includes supplying at least one of power, control communications, and material to a first nozzle; and the method further includes supplying at least one of power, control communications, and material to a second nozzle from the remote mobile base station.