Abstract: A method for printing three-dimensional parts with an additive manufacturing system, comprising printing successive layers having increasing cross-sectional areas, and printing layers of a three-dimensional part onto the previously printed layers, where a last layer of the previously printed successive layers has a cross-sectional area that is at least as large as a footprint area of the three-dimensional part.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 16, 2012
Publication date:
February 20, 2014
Applicant:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Dominic F. Mannella, William J. Swanson
Abstract: A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a downstream portion having a first average inner cross-sectional area, and an upstream having a second average inner cross-sectional area that is less than the first inner cross-sectional area, the upstream portion defining a shoulder configured to restrict movement of a melt meniscus of a consumable material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 22, 2010
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2014
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Swanson, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, J. Samuel Batchelder
Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 21, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 11, 2014
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand, James W. Comb
Abstract: An optical encoder comprising a set of light sources configured to emit light rays in a serial manner, an encoded scale configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light rays, and a photodetector, where the photodetector is configured to detect at least a portion of the reflected light rays and to generate signals based on the detected light rays for each of the light sources.
Abstract: A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 22, 2013
Publication date:
September 12, 2013
Applicant:
Stratasys, Inc
Inventors:
J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson, S. Scott Crump
Abstract: A consumable filament for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the consumable filament comprises a core portion of a first thermoplastic material, and a shell portion of a second thermoplastic material that is compositionally different from the first thermoplastic material, where the consumable filament is configured to be melted and extruded to form roads of a plurality of solidified layers of a three-dimensional object, and where the roads at least partially retain cross-sectional profiles corresponding to the core portion and the shell portion of the consumable filament.
Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part using electrophotography, the additive manufacturing system including a rotatable photoconductor component, a development station configured to develop layers of a material on a surface of the rotatable photoconductor component, a rotatable transfer medium configured to receive the developed layers from the surface of the rotatable photoconductor component, and a platen configured to receive the developed layers from the rotatable transfer medium in a layer-by-layer manner. The additive manufacturing system also includes a plurality of service loops configured to move portions of the rotatable transfer medium at different line speeds while maintaining a net rotational rate of full rotations of the rotatable transfer medium at a substantially steady state.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 16, 2013
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus, Steven A. Chillscyzn
Abstract: A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head includes a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 18, 2013
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson, Timothy A. Hjelsand
Abstract: A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 11, 2013
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Swanson, Dominic F. Mannella, Ronald G. Schloesser
Abstract: A method for building a three-dimensional part, the method comprising providing a printed three-dimensional part and support structure, where the support structure comprises at least two polymers having different glass transition temperatures. The method also comprises annealing the three-dimensional part.
Abstract: A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 4, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 14, 2013
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson, S. Scott Crump
Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 16, 2013
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William J. Swanson, J. Samuel Batchelder, Kevin C. Johnson
Abstract: A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube.
Abstract: A three-dimensional model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, and having a perimeter based on a contour tool path that defines an interior region of a layer of the three-dimensional model, where at least one of a start point and a stop point of the contour tool path is located within the interior region of the layer.
Abstract: A syringe tip assembly comprising a seal component configured to engage a syringe tip, a nozzle configured to slidably engage with the seal component, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing pressure between the seal component and the nozzle.
Abstract: A support material for use with a digital manufacturing system, the support material comprising at least one inorganic ionic compound and is configured to be deposited with the digital manufacturing system using a layer-based additive technique to form a support structure for supporting at least one overhanging region of a three-dimensional model built with the digital manufacturing system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 2, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2012
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
S. Scott Crump, J. Samuel Batchelder, Timothy Sampson, John Barnett
Abstract: A support material feedstock comprising a first copolymer and a polymeric impact modifier, where the first copolymer includes a first monomer unit comprising a carboxyl group and a second monomer unit comprising a phenyl group.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2012
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Paul E. Hopkins, William R. Priedeman, Jr., Jeffrey F. Bye