System and method for forming three-dimensional structures
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsYoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for forming 3D printed structures on a base component includes extruding material through a nozzle while moving the nozzle vertically. Extruded material flows from the nozzle and spreads outwardly upon contact with an underlying portion of material. The outward spread of material is controlled to form a desired geometry for the 3D printed structure. An optical sensing device may provide feedback for controlling the outward spread of material. Using a molding component, structures with anchored portions extending through openings in the base component can be formed.
Claims6
A method of manufacturing a structure, comprising:
- providing a nozzle in a position near a first portion of the structure, the nozzle being configured to extrude material in a first direction;
- extruding a first portion of material through the nozzle onto the first portion of the structure, wherein the first portion of material spreads outwardly in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction when the first portion of material contacts the first portion of the structure;
- receiving optical information about the first portion of material from an optical sensing device;
- determining a sensed outward spreading value from the optical information, the sensed outward spreading value being related to the outward spreading of the first portion of material in the second direction;
- retrieving a predicted outward spreading value;
- and
- adjusting at least one extrusion control parameter in response to the sensed outward spreading value when the sensed outward spreading value is substantially different from the predicted outward spreading value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.