Patents Assigned to Thermwood Corporation
  • Publication number: 20230219301
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA
  • Patent number: 11628614
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay
  • Patent number: 11618209
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus an extruder configured to receive material, a work surface extending so as to define a plane for receiving one or more layers of the material, an applicator assembly secured at a downstream portion of the additive manufacturing apparatus, a nozzle connected to the applicator assembly, the nozzle being configured to receive the material from the extruder and deposit the material on the work surface, and an actuator configured to displace the work surface in a movement direction, wherein the movement direction forms an acute angle with the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, Jonathan L. Fuquay
  • Patent number: 11618218
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 11607845
    Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
  • Publication number: 20230056184
    Abstract: A machine and method of forming an article generally comprising extruding a molten bead of thermoplastic material along x, y and z axes in forming an article consisting of a strata of such material, and passing a roller over each applied portion of such molten bead to compress such bead portion, enhancing the fusion of engaging plies of such extruded material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA
  • Patent number: 11554538
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material container having a hollow interior configured to receive a material and an extruder connected below the material container to receive the material from the material container. The additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material removal device including an actuator configured to activate the material removal device to dislodge retained material from within the hollow interior of the material container and a drain passage configured to receive the dislodged material and guide the material to an exterior of the additive manufacturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
  • Publication number: 20220410493
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA
  • Publication number: 20220362989
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes removing material from a sheet to create a plurality of individual layer segments formed, placing at least two first layer segments adjacent to each other at the same height to form a first layer having a hollow interior, the at least two first layer segments defining a first portion of an exterior of a part, and placing at least one second layer segment above the at least two first layer segments to form a second layer having a hollow interior, the at least one second layer segment defining a second portion of the exterior of the part. The method includes attaching the first layer to the second layer and removing material from the first layer and from the second layer to form the part having a continuous surface that extends along the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA
  • Patent number: 11491739
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing apparatus and methods. An exemplary additive manufacturing method may include forming a part using additive manufacturing. The method may also include bringing the part to a first temperature, measuring the part along at least three axes at the first temperature, bringing the part to a second temperature, different than the first temperature, and measuring the part along the at least three axes at the second temperature. The method may further include comparing the size of the part at the first and second temperatures to calculate a coefficient of thermal expansion, generating a tool path that compensates for the coefficient of thermal expansion, bringing the part to the first temperature, and trimming the part while the part is at the first temperature using the tool path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 11491696
    Abstract: A machine and method of forming an article generally comprising extruding a molten bead of thermoplastic material along x, y and z axes in forming an article consisting of a strata of such material, and passing a roller over each applied portion of such molten bead to compress such bead portion, enhancing the fusion of engaging plies of such extruded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 11472108
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material container having a hollow interior configured to receive a material and an extruder connected below the material container to receive the material from the material container. The additive manufacturing apparatus includes a material removal device including an actuator configured to activate the material removal device to dislodge retained material from within the hollow interior of the material container and a drain passage configured to receive the dislodged material and guide the material to an exterior of the additive manufacturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 11465362
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Publication number: 20220305729
    Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
  • Publication number: 20220288915
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth SUSNJARA
  • Patent number: 11383438
    Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 11376778
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth Susnjara
  • Publication number: 20220184881
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay
  • Patent number: 11345081
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes removing material from a sheet to create a plurality of individual layer segments formed, placing at least two first layer segments adjacent to each other at the same height to form a first layer having a hollow interior, the at least two first layer segments defining a first portion of an exterior of a part, and placing at least one second layer segment above the at least two first layer segments to form a second layer having a hollow interior, the at least one second layer segment defining a second portion of the exterior of the part. The method includes attaching the first layer to the second layer and removing material from the first layer and from the second layer to form the part having a continuous surface that extends along the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Publication number: 20220111589
    Abstract: A method of forming a part using additive manufacturing may include receiving, at a computer numeric controlled (CNC) machine, a computer aided design (CAD) model of the part. The method may further include dividing the CAD model into plurality of sections. The method may further include slicing each of the plurality of sections into a plurality of layers. Each section may include a distinct set of print parameters. The method may further include depositing a flowable material onto a worktable according the set of print parameters for each section of the of the plurality of sections to manufacture the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Scott G. VAAL, Nicolas C. VOTE