Patents Assigned to Stratasys, Inc.
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH METAL-BASED ALLOYS
    Publication number: 20090314391
    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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Scott Crump, J. Samuel Batchelder, Timothy Sampson, Robert L. Zinniel, John Barnett
  • Method of building three-dimensional object with modified ABS materials
    Publication number: 20090295032
    Abstract: A method for building a 3D object with an extrusion-based layered deposition system comprising feeding a modified ABS material to an extrusion head of the extrusion-based layered deposition system, melting the fed modified ABS material in the extrusion head under conditions that improve a response time of the extrusion head, and depositing the molten thermoplastic material in a layer-by-layer manner to form the 3D object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E. Hopkins
  • METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20090299517
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Holzwarth
  • Extrusion head for use in extrusion-based layered deposition modeling
    Patent number: 7625200
    Abstract: An extrusion head comprising at least one mounting structure, a first liquefier pump secured to the at least one mounting structure, a second liquefier pump disposed adjacent to the first liquefier pump, a toggle mechanism supported by the at least one mounting structure and configured to move the second liquefier pump relative to the first liquefier pump along a first axis, and a slot engagement assembly connected in part to the second liquefier pump for defining a range of motion for the second liquefier pump along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Leavitt
  • Filament drive mechanism for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems
    Publication number: 20090274540
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
  • Liquefier assembly for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems
    Publication number: 20090273122
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
  • DIGITAL MANUFACTURING WITH AMORPHOUS METALLIC ALLOYS
    Publication number: 20090263582
    Abstract: A method for building a three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer manner, the method comprising heating a build chamber of a digital manufacturing system, feeding a solid feedstock of a modeling material comprising an amorphous metallic alloy to a liquefier assembly of the digital manufacturing system, heating the modeling material of the solid feedstock in the liquefier assembly to an extrudable state, and depositing the heated modeling material within the heated build chamber in a predetermined pattern to form the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: John Samuel Batchelder
  • Single-motor extrusion head having multiple extrusion lines
    Patent number: 7604470
    Abstract: An extrusion head comprising at least one drive wheel and an assembly positionable between at least a first state and a second state. The assembly comprises a first extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state, and a second extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. LaBossiere, Benjamin N. Dunn, Thomas J. McDonough, Marvin E. Eshelman
  • Method for building and using three-dimensional objects containing embedded identification-tag inserts
    Publication number: 20090173443
    Abstract: A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising performing a build operation to form layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique, placing the identification-tag insert on at least a portion of the layers during the build operation, and reading information from the identification-tag insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Kozlak, Steven A. Chillscyzn, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • System for building three-dimensional objects containing embedded inserts, and method of use thereof
    Publication number: 20090177309
    Abstract: A system for building a three-dimensional object with a layer-based additive technique, the system comprising a controller configured to receive build sequence data for the three-dimensional object, a head assembly in signal communication with the controller and configured to form a plurality of layers of the three-dimensional object based on the build sequence data, and an insert placement apparatus in signal communication with the controller and configured to place at least one insert in the plurality of formed layers based on the build sequence data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Kozlak
  • Method for building three-dimensional objects containing embedded inserts
    Publication number: 20090174709
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Kozlak, Donald J. Holzwarth, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Method for building three-dimensional objects with extrusion-based layered deposition systems
    Patent number: 7555357
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Holzwarth
  • Material and method for three-dimensional modeling
    Patent number: 7534386
    Abstract: A three-dimensional model and its support structure are built by fused deposition modeling techniques, wherein a thermoplastic material containing silicone is used to form the support structure and/or the model. The thermoplastic material containing silicone exhibits good thermal stability, and resists build-up in the nozzle of an extrusion head or jetting head of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus. The silicone contained in a support material acts as a release agent to facilitate removal of the support structure from the model after its completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Priedeman, Jr.
  • High-resolution rapid manufacturing
    Patent number: 7502023
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming an object, the method comprising jetting a first material to form a plurality of layers that define a support structure increment, and extruding a second material to form a layer of the object. The layer of the object substantially conforms to an interior surface of the support structure increment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Zinniel, John Samuel Batchelder
  • Extrusion head for use in extrusion-based layered deposition modeling
    Publication number: 20090035405
    Abstract: An extrusion head comprising at least one mounting structure, a first liquefier pump secured to the at least one mounting structure, a second liquefier pump disposed adjacent to the first liquefier pump, a toggle mechanism supported by the at least one mounting structure and configured to move the second liquefier pump relative to the first liquefier pump along a first axis, and a slot engagement assembly connected in part to the second liquefier pump for defining a range of motion for the second liquefier pump along the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Leavitt
  • Method for building three-dimensional objects with thin wall regions
    Publication number: 20090018685
    Abstract: A method for modifying a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising establishing a threshold wall width, providing at least one sliced layer polyline of the computer-aided design model, determining a first distance between first and second portions of the at least one sliced layer polyline, and adjusting locations of the first and second portion to provide a second distance if the first distance is less than the threshold wall width, where the second distance is about equal to the threshold wall width, or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Holzwarth
  • Filament spool
    Patent number: D598733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky
  • Filament spool container
    Patent number: D598922
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky
  • Filament spool
    Patent number: D606845
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky
  • Filament spool container
    Patent number: D606998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Taatjes, Patrick W. Turley, Martin G. Zalusky