US 9,176,016 B2 · System and method for 3D printer material management

Abstract

The quantity of material remaining in a 3D printing system may be effectively measured through the use of a strain gauge. The strain gauge may be mounted on a support member such as a cantilevered support that holds the weight of a material dispenser. As the material is consumed, the strain gauge may measure the reduction in deformation of the cantilevered support, thereby indicating to a control system and/or a user the quantity of material used. Full and/or empty material dispenser measurements may be taken to provide reference points that indicate how close the material dispenser is to being full and/or empty. The material dispenser may be mounted in a variety of locations relative to the 3D printer, including on a side and on top. A top-mounted material dispenser may be received within a bearing that permits the material dispenser to rotate, allowing the material to unwind during consumption.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a material dispenser that retains and dispenses material for use in a fabrication process conducted by a fabricator;
a support member that supports the material dispenser relative to the fabricator, wherein the support member comprises a load-bearing portion that undergoes a change in deformation in response to a change in weight of the material dispenser;
and
a deformation measurement device positioned to measure deformation of the load-bearing portion, thereby indicating a change in weight of the material retained by the material dispenser.

1 more element

A method comprising:

positioning a deformation measurement device to measure deformation of a load-bearing portion of a support member, wherein the support member is positioned to support a material dispenser relative to a fabricator such that the material dispenser retains and dispenses material for use in a fabrication process conducted by the fabricator;
measuring a first deformation of the load-bearing portion with the deformation measurement device;
and
based on the first deformation, determining at least one selection from the group consisting of:
a quantity of material consumed by the fabrication process;
a quantity of material consumed from the material dispenser;
and
a quantity of material retained by the material dispenser.

5 more elements

A system comprising:

a fabricator that conducts a fabricating process in which a filament is consumed;
a material dispenser that retains and dispenses the filament to the fabricator;
a support member that supports the material dispenser relative to the fabricator, wherein the support member comprises a load-bearing portion that undergoes a change in deformation in response to a change in weight of the material dispenser;
a strain gauge positioned to measure deformation of the load-bearing portion;
and
a controller connected to the strain gauge such that, in response to measurement of the deformation of the load-bearing portion, the controller indicates at least one selection from the group consisting of:
a quantity of filament consumed by the fabrication process;
a quantity of filament consumed from the material dispenser;
and
a quantity of filament retained by the material dispenser.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for 3D printer material management

Life of this patent

System and method for 3D printer material management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20