Ribbon filament and assembly for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsJ. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson, S. Scott Crump
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate.
Claims20
A ribbon filament for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the ribbon filament comprising:
- a composition comprising at least one extrudable material;
- a length that is continuous for at least a distance such that the ribbon filament is feedable from a supply source to the ribbon liquefier retained by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
- and
- a cross-sectional profile of the length that is axially asymmetric and having a width and a thickness, wherein the width ranges from about 1.0 millimeter to about 10.2 millimeters, wherein the thickness ranges from about 0.51 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeter, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the ribbon filament has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1;
- wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source or when fed from the supply source to the ribbon liquefier;
- and
- wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young's Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals.
An assembly for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the assembly comprising:
- a supply source configured to engage the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
- and
- a ribbon filament retained by the supply source, the ribbon filament comprising:
- a composition comprising at least one extrudable material;
- a length that is continuous for at least a distance such that the ribbon filament is feedable from the supply source to the ribbon liquefier retained by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
- and
- a rectangular cross-sectional profile of the length, which is configured to mate with the ribbon liquefier having an entrance cross-sectional area Ae and a hydraulic diameter Dh with the ribbon filament, wherein Dh<0.95√{square root over (Ae)}, and wherein the rectangular cross-sectional profile has a width and a thickness with a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1;
- wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source;
- and
- wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young's Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals.
An assembly for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the assembly comprising:
- a container configured to engage the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
- a pathway from the container and configured to extend to a ribbon liquefier retainable by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
- and
- a ribbon filament at least partially retained within the container and feedable through the pathway from the container to the ribbon liquefier, the ribbon filament comprising:
- a composition comprising at least one extrudable material;
- a length;
- a rectangular cross-sectional profile of the length, which is configured to mate with the ribbon liquefier having an entrance cross-sectional area Ae and a hydraulic diameter Dh with the ribbon filament, wherein Dh<0.95√{square root over (Ae)}, and wherein the rectangular cross-sectional profile has a width and a thickness with a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5:1 to about 20:1;
- wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source;
- and
- wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young's Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.