Patents Assigned to Stratasys, Inc.
  • Consumable assembly with payout tube for additive manufacturing system
    Patent number: 9902588
    Abstract: A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising a tip end having an inlet opening, a base end having an outlet opening, and a tube body having an average effective outer diameter that is substantially greater than an effective inner diameter of the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic F. Mannella, William J. Swanson, Kevin C. Johnson, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Lubricant flow control in a linear motor
    Patent number: 9893591
    Abstract: A linear motor includes a rotor rotatable relative to a surrounding rotor sleeve and about a central axis. At least one opening extends between an inner surface and an outer surface of the rotor. An externally threaded leadscrew extends through the rotor and along the central axis. An internally threaded nut is located within and mated to the rotor so as to rotate with the rotor about the central axis and ride along the leadscrew. A first cavity is located between the nut and a first bushing set against the inner surface of the rotor and a second cavity is located between nut and a second bushing set against the inner surface of the rotor. The at least one opening in the rotor forms a passage between the first and second cavities and is defined between the sleeve and nut so as to communicate excess lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Farley, James Flannigan
  • Layer transfusion for additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 9885987
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Electrophotography-based additive manufacturing with pre-sintering
    Patent number: 9868255
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes producing a developed layer of a part material with one or more electrophotography engines of an additive manufacturing system, transferring the developed layer from the one or more electrophotography engines to a transfer assembly of the additive manufacturing system sintering the developed layer at the transfer assembly to produce a sintered contiguous film, cooling the sintered contiguous film down to a transfer temperature, and pressing the cooled sintered contiguous film into contact with an intermediate build surface of the three-dimensional part with a low applied pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Support cleaning system
    Patent number: 9855589
    Abstract: An automated support cleaning system comprising a tank disposed within a housing and configured to circulate an aqueous cleaning solution to remove a support structure from a three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin N. Dunn, Thomas J. McDonough, Bryan L. Smith, William J. Swanson, James E. Orrock, Claudia Mosher, Randall R. Shay, Robert L. Skubic, Martin G. Zalusky, David M. Kozlak, Jerome W. Goetzke
  • Encoded consumable materials and sensor assemblies for use in additive manufacturing systems
    Patent number: 9855679
    Abstract: A consumable material and sensor assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by the sensor assembly, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the additive manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, Michael D. Bosveld
  • Semi-crystalline consumable materials for electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system
    Patent number: 9785064
    Abstract: A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Orrock, Steven A. Chillscyzn, Trevor I. Martin
  • Additive manufacturing with virtual planarization control
    Patent number: 9770869
    Abstract: A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes printing a plurality of successive layers of the three-dimensional part with the additive manufacturing system based on bitslices in a bitslice stack, measuring surface heights of the successive layers after each of the successive layers are printed, determining differences between the measured surface heights and predicted stack heights of the bitslices, identifying one or more topographical error regions based on the determined differences, and modifying the bitslice stack to compensate for the one or more topographical error regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Comb, Zeiter S. Farah, J. Samuel Batchelder
  • Magnetic platen assembly for additive manufacturing system
    Patent number: 9744730
    Abstract: A platen assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, which includes a platen plate that is preferably secured to a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system, and having a top surface, and one or more magnets secured to the platen plate and configured to generate one or more magnetic fields at the top surface of the platen plate. The platen gantry is configured to magnetically couple interchangeable and replaceable build sheets to the top surface of the platen plate due to the one or more generated magnetic fields, and where the magnetically-coupled build sheets are configured to receive the printed layers from the printing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Comb
  • Additive manufacturing with polyamide consumable materials
    Patent number: 9744722
    Abstract: A consumable material for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable filament comprising a polyamide blend of at least one semi-crystalline polyamide, and at least one amorphous polyamide that is substantially miscible with the at least one semi-crystalline polyamide, and a physical geometry configured to be received by the additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part from the consumable material in a layer-by-layer manner using an additive manufacturing technique. The consumable material is preferably capable of printing three-dimensional parts having good part strengths and ductilities, and low curl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke M. B. Rodgers
  • Additive manufacturing method for building three-dimensional objects with core-shell arrangements
    Patent number: 9738031
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Mikulak, Carl R. Deckard, Robert L. Zinniel
  • Seam concealment for three-dimensional models
    Patent number: 9724866
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Hopkins, Donald J. Holzwarth
  • LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLIES FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20170217089
    Abstract: A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system to print three-dimensional parts. In one aspect, the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier that is transversely compressible, and having an inlet end configured to receive a consumable material in a solid or molten state and an outlet end, a nozzle at the outlet end, and an actuator mechanism configured to transversely compress and expand the liquefier in a controlled manner In another aspect, the liquefier assembly is self heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
  • Layer transfusion with rotatable belt for additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 9720363
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Chillscyzn, James W. Comb, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
  • Spool assembly with locking mechanism for additive manufacturing system, and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 9714153
    Abstract: A spool assembly comprising a housing structure, a spool rotatably retained in an interior region of the housing structure, and a sealed sheath encasing the housing structure to define a barrier for the encased housing structure and the rotatably retained spool. The spool assembly further comprises a locking arm disposed outside of the sealed sheath and configured to operably engage the spool through the sealed sheath and through the housing structure in a manner that does not penetrate the sealed sheath, where the locking arm prevents the spool from rotating relative to the housing mechanism when operably engaged with the spool. The locking arm may disengage from the spool in a hands-free manner when the spool assembly is loaded into a bay of an additive manufacturing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad E. Beery, David M. Kozlak, Timothy A. Hjelsand
  • Polyglycolic acid support material for additive manufacturing systems
    Patent number: 9714318
    Abstract: A support material for use in an additive manufacturing system, which compositionally includes a polyglycolic acid polymer, which is at least partially soluble in an aqueous solution, and which is configured for use in the additive manufacturing system for printing a support structure in coordination with printing of a three-dimensional part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Vittorio L. Jaker, James E. Orrock, Christopher Scott Graley
  • Biodegradable polymer compositions
    Patent number: 9714319
    Abstract: Hyper-branched biodegradable polymers are produced by melt processing biodegradable polymers with a branching agent at temperatures that promote free radical reactions between the biodegradable polymer and the branching agent. The biodegradable compositions have an excellent balance of mechanical properties and are suitable for flame retardant applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Cernohous, Garrett S. Van Gorden
  • Moisture scavenger composition
    Patent number: 9708457
    Abstract: A moisture scavenger composition to address the processing of moisture sensitive materials or high moisture content materials in melt processable feed stocks. The moisture scavenger includes a desiccant, an elastomeric dispersant, and an optional hydrophillic synergist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jacob Cernohous, Neil R. Granlund
  • Remotely-adjustable purge station for use in additive manufacturing systems
    Patent number: 9694545
    Abstract: A purge station assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, which includes a purge station having a base bracket, a slide mount slidably engaged with the base bracket, and a contact head configured to clean a nozzle tip of a print head. The purge station assembly also includes a mechanism, such as a cable line, operably attached to the slide mount that allows an operator to mechanically move the slide mount relative to the base bracket from a location that is remote from the purge station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Skubic, Logan R. Kiene, Joel E. Farley, Benjamin L. Braton, James Flannigan, Joel Ostby
  • Material hopper
    Patent number: D811036
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Bosveld, Robert L. Skubic, Robert E. Styer