Extrusion apparatus for three-dimensional modeling
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsJeffery J. Hanson, Michael David Bosveld, John Samuel Batchelder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a multi-tip extrusion apparatus and design methodology whereby a single extrusion head having approximately co-planar, fixed-position dispensing tips is used in a three-dimensional modeling machine to deposit multiple types of materials from distinct material supply sources. The tips are spaced apart a distance great enough so that a road of material extruded by a leading one of the tips will cool and shrink from the plane of the tips so that it is not smeared by contact with a trailing one of the tips.
Claims6
A modeling machine of the type which builds three-dimensional objects by depositing thermally solidifiable modeling material as a road of molten material having a height h into a build environment having a temperature lower than an extrudate temperature of the material, and from an extrusion head that moves at a known speed in a predetermined cross-sectional pattern, comprising:
- a first supply of a first thermally solidifiable modeling material, in the form of a continuous filament;
- a second supply of a second thermally solidifiable modeling material, in the form of a continuous filament;
- a first thermally conductive dispenser carried by the extrusion head and having an inlet for receiving the first supply of the first thermally solidifiable modeling material and a tip for dispensing roads of the first material in molten form, the tip of the first dispenser having a downward face positioned in approximately a z-plane;
- a second thermally conductive dispenser carried by the extrusion head and having an inlet for receiving the second supply of the second thermally solidifiable modeling material and a tip for dispensing roads of the second material in molten form, the tip of the second dispenser being maintained in a fixed vertical position relative to the tip of the first dispenser, and having a downward face spaced apart a distance s from the face of the first dispenser and positioned in approximately the same z-plane as the face of the first dispenser;
- a thermally conductive body in which the dispensers are carried;
- a thermal insulator positioned in the body so as to provide thermal separation between the dispensers;
- a means for heating the first dispenser to a temperature at which the first material is flowable;
- and
- a means for heating the second dispenser to a temperature at which the second material is flowable;
- wherein the distance s is great enough that a road deposited by one of the tips will shrink due exclusively to cooling during a minimum transit time Δt between the tips such that the other one of the tips does not drag across and smear the road.
In a modeling machine of the type which builds three-dimensional objects by depositing thermally solidifiable modeling material as a road of molten material having a height h into a build environment having a temperature lower than an extrudate temperature of the material, and from an extrusion head that moves at a known speed in a predetermined cross-sectional pattern, the improvement comprising:
- a first thermally conductive dispenser carried by the extrusion head and having an inlet for receiving a first thermally solidifiable modeling material and a tip for dispensing roads of the first material in molten form, the tip of the first dispenser having a downward face positioned in approximately a z-plane;
- and
- a second thermally conductive dispenser carried by the extrusion head and having an inlet for receiving a second thermally solidifiable modeling material and a tip for dispensing roads of the second material in molten form, the tip of the second dispenser being maintained in a fixed vertical position relative to the tip of the first dispenser, and having a downward face spaced apart a distance s from the face of the first dispenser and positioned in approximately the same z-plane as the face of the first dispenser;
- a thermally conductive body in which the dispensers are carried;
- a thermal positioned in the body so as to provide thermal separation between the dispensers;
- a means for heating the first dispenser to a temperature at which the first material is flowable;
- and
- a means for heating the second dispenser to a temperature at which the second material is flowable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.