Rapid prototyping system with filament supply spool monitoring
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Dahlin, Bernard C. Nelson, Kevin D. Docken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filament spool used in a rapid prototyping system carries a circuit which maintains data regarding the type and amount of filament on the spool. When the spool is mounted onto a spindle in the rapid prototyping system, the circuit is connected to the electronic control of the system. The data indicating the electronic control of the system. The data indicating the amount of filament on the spool is updated as filament is used by the system.
Claims19
A rapid prototyping system for making a three-dimensional physical object by depositing solidifiable material in multiple layers, comprising:
- a movable extrusion head having an inlet for receiving a filament of a material which solidifies at a predetermined temperature, and an outlet for delivering the material in a molten state;
- a spool carrying a coil of filament, the spool having an associated circuit for maintaining data regarding type and amount of filament on the spool;
- a filament drive for withdrawing filament from the spool and supplying the filament to the liquifier;
- and
- updating means for updating the data regarding the amount of filament on the spool as a function of filament withdrawn from the spool by the filament drive.
A material carrier for use in a rapid prototyping system of the type having an extrusion head having an inlet for receiving a filament of a material which solidifies at a predetermined temperature, and an outlet for delivering the material in a molten state, the material carrier comprising:
- a spool on which the filament is wound;
- a circuit carried by the spool for maintaining data regarding the type and amount of filament on the spool;
- and
- contacts for providing electrical connection between the circuit and the rapid prototyping system.
A filament spool for use in a rapid prototyping system of the type having an extrusion head having an inlet for receiving a filament of a material which solidifies at a predetermined temperature, and an outlet for delivering the material in a molten state, the filament spool comprising:
- a center barrel on which filament may be would;
- a sleeve within the barrel for receiving a spindle;
- and
- a circuit board mounted inside the sleeve, the circuit board carrying an electronically readable and writeable device for maintaining data regarding the type and amount of filament on the spool and a set of electrical contacts for receiving a set of mating connector pins connected to the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.