Abstract: A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 17, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
S. Scott Crump, J. Samuel Batchelder, Timothy Sampson, Robert L. Zinniel, John Barnett
Abstract: A filament spool for use in a filament spool container, where the filament spool comprises a first rim and a second rim offset by an axial shaft, and a series of grooves extending along a first portion of the first rim and configured to receive a filament of a material while the filament is wound around the axial shaft in a first rotational direction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky
Abstract: A container comprising a housing that is configured to rotatably mount a filament supply spool, and a filament guide mechanism mountable within a channel of the housing, where the filament guide mechanism comprises a filament pathway configured to guide the filament from the filament supply spool rotatably mounted in the interior chamber, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filament through at least a portion of the filament pathway.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky, Thomas P. Paul
Abstract: A method for generating build sequence data for a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising identifying a location of an insert data representation in the computer-aided design model, slicing the computer-aided design model into a plurality of sliced layers, generating a plurality of support layers for at least a portion of the plurality of sliced layers, and generating an unfilled region in the computer-aided design model at the identified location of the insert data representation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 8, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
David M. Kozlak, Donald J. Holzwarth, J. Samuel Batchelder
Abstract: A method for building a three-dimensional object, the method comprising extruding a build material having a temperature profile between a surface and a central region of the extruded build material in which the surface has a higher temperature than the central region of the build material. The build material comprises a carrier material and nanofibers.
Abstract: A liquefier assembly comprising a liquefier tube, where the liquefier tube comprises a sidewall having an inlet opening configured to receive a filament strand, an outlet opening, and a port disposed through the sidewall at a location between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the port being configured to provide access for a filament drive mechanism to engage with the received filament strand. The liquefier assembly further comprises a heat transfer component configured to generate a thermal gradient along a longitudinal length of the sidewall between the port and the outlet opening.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
Abstract: A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least one rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable component, thereby allowing the engaged internally-threaded surface to drive the filament strand through the central hole of the rotatable component.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object using an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the method comprising generating a build path for building a layer of the three-dimensional object, where the build path defines a void region. The method further comprising generating at least one intermediate path in the void region, and generating a remnant path based at least in part on the at least one intermediate path.
Abstract: A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2008
Date of Patent:
February 22, 2011
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert L. Skubic, James W. Comb, Jerome K. Grudem, Jr., William J. Swanson, John Samuel Batchelder, Steven M. Brose
Abstract: The present invention is a composition for making a three-dimensional object. The composition comprises a plasticizer and a base polymer, where the base polymer comprises a carboxylic acid, where the composition is soluble in an alkaline solution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 26, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 13, 2010
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
William R. Priedeman, Jr., Andrea L. Brosch
Abstract: A tip cleaning assembly for use with an extrusion head of an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the tip cleaning assembly comprising a support component, a purge ledge assembly mounted on the support component, at least one set block mounted on the support component adjacent the purge ledge assembly, and at least one contact head removably mounted on the first set block, where the at least one contact head is configured to engage at least one extrusion tip of the extrusion head.
Abstract: A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 21, 2008
Publication date:
April 22, 2010
Applicant:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
James W. Comb, Troy M. Coolidge, Robert E. Styer
Abstract: A filament spool for use in a filament spool container, where the filament spool comprises a first rim and a second rim offset by an axial shaft, and a series of grooves extending along a first portion of the first rim and configured to receive a filament of a material while the filament is wound around the axial shaft in a first rotational direction.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 22, 2008
Publication date:
April 22, 2010
Applicant:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky
Abstract: A container comprising a housing that is configured to rotatably mount a filament supply spool, and a filament guide mechanism mountable within a channel of the housing, where the filament guide mechanism comprises a filament pathway configured to guide the filament from the filament supply spool rotatably mounted in the interior chamber, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filament through at least a portion of the filament pathway.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 22, 2008
Publication date:
April 22, 2010
Applicant:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky, Thomas P. Paul
Abstract: The present invention is a method for performing a calibration routine of a deposition device in a three-dimensional modeling machine that deposits a material to build up three-dimensional objects as directed by a controller on a substrate mounted on a platform. The method comprises generating a material build profile, which represents a three-dimensional structure at defined locations. A relative position of the material build profile is then determined. An expected build profile is identified and then compared to the determined relative position of the material build profile to identify any difference which represents an offset. The modeling system then positions the deposition device based upon the offset.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 3, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2010
Assignee:
Stratasys, Inc.
Inventors:
Benjamin N. Dunn, James W. Comb, Hans P. Erickson, Jason P. Wanzek
Abstract: A system and method is provided for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object. A cabinet housing has a sealable interior. A heated vapor chamber in the interior of the cabinet housing contains solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor for smoothing the object when the object is placed in the vapor chamber. A drying chamber is also provided in the interior of the cabinet housing that is separate from the vapor chamber for drying the object when the object is moved from the vapor chamber to the drying chamber.