US 2023/0398606 A1 · Printing Heads and Associated Methods

Abstract

Many embodiments described herein are directed to a printing nozzle capable of producing a high-pressure flow of shielding gas that surrounds a lower pressure flow of shielding gas of the central channel. In certain embodiments, the high-pressure shield gas flow in the internal channels can blow out the material buildup in the nozzle. The high-pressure shielding gas can be concentrically produced around the first low-pressure shielding gas such that it helps to force the first shielding gas into a more laminar flow around the feed material. In several embodiments, a second low-pressure flow of shielding gas can be produced using a secondary cup to increase shielding gas coverage. In various embodiments, a secondary cup surrounds the inner cup, where the gas flow in the central channel and the outer channel can provide shielding gas coverage for the nozzle during printing.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A printing nozzle comprising:

a main cylindrical body forming a first fluid flow channel extending a length of the body from a proximal end and a distal end and configured to receive a first fluid;
and
a second cylindrical body forming a second fluid flow channel concentrically located exterior to the first fluid flow channel, and the second fluid flow channel extends a length of the body from a proximal end and a distal end and configured to receive a second fluid and direct the second fluid surrounding the first fluid flow;
wherein the proximal end of the main cylindrical body is adjacent to the proximal end of the second cylindrical body;
and
wherein the distal end of the main cylindrical body aligns with the distal end of the second cylindrical body.

3 more elements

A printing nozzle comprising:

a main cylindrical body having a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, wherein the main cylindrical body has a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the wall extends a longitudinal length of the main cylindrical body between the first and second end;
a second cylindrical body having a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, wherein the second cylindrical body has a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the wall extends a longitudinal length of the second cylindrical body between the first and second end, wherein the second cylindrical body concentrically located exterior to the main cylindrical body;
wherein the first end of the second cylindrical body is adjacent to the first end of the main cylindrical body;
wherein the inner surface of the main cylindrical body forms a first fluid flow channel configured to receive a first fluid;
the outer surface of the main cylindrical body and the inner surface of the second cylindrical body forms a second fluid flow channel configured to receive a second fluid;
a plurality of diffuser holes circumferentially disposed on the wall of the main cylindrical body such that each of the plurality of diffuser holes transcends through the wall connecting the second fluid channel with the outer surface of the main cylindrical body.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing Heads and Associated Methods

Life of this patent

Printing Heads and Associated Methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19