Individual motor pin module

An assembly having a plurality of modules wherein each module is used in conjunction with other such modules in an apparatus for rapidly producing an article having a three-dimensional design comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of pins mounted on said base and said plurality of pins movable relative thereto;
• a plurality of drive motors corresponding in number to the number of said plurality of pins;
• means interconnecting each of said plurality of pins with said base, each said means being connected independently between said base and a corresponding one of said pins;
• control means interconnecting each of said drive means and a controller with one another to effect selective energization of said drive means;
• said pins having planar sides and are prevented from rotating by the restraining action of the planar sides of said pins;
• means for interconnecting each of said plurality of pins with said base includes a lead screw, an encoder means and connected gear train each associated with one of said plurality of said pins;
• said drive means includes an encoder means and connected gear train each associated with one pair of said plurality of said pins and said motors;
• said control means includes a subcontroller associated with each said module and a main controller connectable to one or more subcontrollers through a bi-directional ring/chain architecture and communication scheme;
• each of said plurality of modules being provided with an associated subcontroller connected to a main controller such that a module receives commands and data from a module connected closer to the main controller and acts on and/or transmits to the module which follows it.