Abstract: A multiliner for a ball nut, a ball nut and a ball screw assembly are provided. Methods of forming the multiliner are also provided. The multiliner includes return channels that are configured to prevent bearing balls from falling out of a retaining region in a radial direction. This allows bearing balls to travel past intermediate grooves formed in a cooperating threaded ball screw shaft.

Abstract: A motor is provided. The motor includes a motor body and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a magnetic core mounted to a rotor shaft. The rotor assembly may include standoffs for accurately axially locating the magnetic core relative to rotor bearings. A drive nut adjustment arrangement may be provided. A mechanical interconnection between the drive nut and rotor shaft may be provided. A trailing end lead screw support may be provided. An axial preload arrangement may be provided to axially locate the rotor assembly within the motor body.

Abstract: A filament drive for an extruder for an additive manufacturing system is provided. A drive gear is driven by a motor. A first driven gear is operably driven by the drive gear. A first hob has a toothed outer periphery connected to the first driven gear. A second driven gear is operably driven by the drive gear. A second hob has a toothed outer periphery connected to the second driven gear. The toothed outer peripheries of the first and second hobs define a filament receiving zone therebetween. A filament extruder including a heating element operated at greater than 48 volts may be provided.

Abstract: A motor is provided. The motor includes a motor body and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a magnetic core mounted to a rotor shaft. The rotor assembly may include standoffs for accurately axially locating the magnetic core relative to rotor bearings. A drive nut adjustment arrangement may be provided. A mechanical interconnection between the drive nut and rotor shaft may be provided. A trailing end lead screw support may be provided. An axial preload arrangement may be provided to axially locate the rotor assembly within the motor body.

Abstract: A motor is provided. The motor includes a motor body and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a magnetic core mounted to a rotor shaft. The rotor assembly may include standoffs for accurately axially locating the magnetic core relative to rotor bearings. A drive nut adjustment arrangement may be provided. A mechanical interconnection between the drive nut and rotor shaft may be provided. A trailing end lead screw support may be provided. An axial preload arrangement may be provided to axially locate the rotor assembly within the motor body.

Abstract: A motor is provided. The motor includes a motor body and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes a magnetic core mounted to a rotor shaft. The rotor assembly may include standoffs for accurately axially locating the magnetic core relative to rotor bearings. A drive nut adjustment arrangement may be provided. A mechanical interconnection between the drive nut and rotor shaft may be provided. A trailing end lead screw support may be provided. An axial preload arrangement may be provided to axially locate the rotor assembly within the motor body.

Abstract: A multiliner for a ball nut, a ball nut and a ball screw assembly are provided. Methods of forming the multiliner are also provided. The multiliner includes return channels that are configured to prevent bearing balls from falling out of a retaining region in a radial direction. This allows bearing balls to travel past intermediate grooves formed in a cooperating threaded ball screw shaft.

Abstract: A filament straightener, an additive manufacturing machine including a filament straightener, and methods of straightening a filament are provided. The filament straightener includes abase member, a plurality of guide members attached to the base member. The plurality of guide members defines a filament flow path therebetween. The filament flow path extends between an inlet end and an outlet end. The guide members are spaced relative to the filament flow path to cause a filament passing along the filament flow path between the inlet end and the outlet end to experience a plurality of bends to remove curvature memory.

Abstract: A filament drive for an extruder for an additive manufacturing system is provided. A drive gear is driven by a motor. A first driven gear is operably driven by the drive gear. A first hob has a toothed outer periphery connected to the first driven gear. A second driven gear is operably driven by the drive gear. A second hob has a toothed outer periphery connected to the second driven gear. The toothed outer peripheries of the first and second hobs define a filament receiving zone therebetween. A filament extruder including a heating element operated at greater than 48 volts may be provided.

Abstract: An additive and subtractive manufacturing system and method of manufacturing is provided. The system includes a print bed and both an additive machine and a subtractive machine. The additive machine will dispense material onto the print bed and the additive machine will be able to perform subtractive manufacturing on the material dispensed onto the print bed. The additive machine and subtractive machine will be mounted to actuators for moving the machines in three-dimensions within a working zone adjacent the print bed. The system may include placement machines for placing pre-made components in the product during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Couplings between driven shafts of an actuator and a motor of an actuator are provided. The coupling may be directly integrated into a rotor of the motor. The coupling may be provided by an adaptor that includes a shaft that extends into a central bore of the rotor of the motor. The adaptor can include a collar that defines a coupling recess that receives a distal end of the driven shaft of the actuator. The collar may take the form of a clamp.

Abstract: A linear guide including a guide rail, a carriage, a drive screw and a connection arrangement is provided. The guide rail defines a linear travel path. The carriage is mounted to the guide rail for motion along the linear travel path. The drive screw is operably mounted to the guide rail. The connection arrangement couples the drive screw to the carriage to convert rotary motion of the drive screw to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path. The connection arrangement provides a single degree of linear freedom between the drive screw and the carriage in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the linear travel path. The single degree of linear freedom permits relative motion between the screw and the carriage to relieve internal binding between the relative components.

Abstract: A inverted spline rail system is provided. The inverted spline rail system includes a drive motor that rotates a drive screw. The drive screw has a associated nut body. The nut body includes a attachment portion that a user can attach a device that requires linear motion control. Furthermore, the nut body is located inside of a cylindrical body that encases the drive screw. The nut body has guide teeth that mate with an internally splined guide rail of the cylindrical body that contains both the nut and the drive screw. The reciprocating nature of the guide teeth of the nut and the internally splined guide rail of the cylindrical body translate the rotational motion of the drive screw into linear motion of the nut body. The inverted spline rail system is protected from its operating environment by a seal.

Abstract: A nut and lead screw assembly is disclosed. The nut includes a plurality of flexible fingers for adjusting the engagement of a threaded or unthreaded portion of the nut with corresponding threads of a lead screw. The engagement between the nut and the lead screw is adjusted by installing at least one radial compression member into a circumferential groove formed in the outer surface of the flexible fingers.

Abstract: Couplings between driven shafts of an actuator and a motor of an actuator are provided. The coupling may be directly integrated into a rotor of the motor. The coupling may be provided by an adaptor that includes a shaft that extends into a central bore of the rotor of the motor. The adaptor can include a collar that defines a coupling recess that receives a distal end of the driven shaft of the actuator. The collar may take the form of a clamp.

Abstract: A linear slide is provided. The linear slide includes a guide rail, a carriage arrangement and a drive mechanism. The carriage arrangement includes a sidecar or nut arrangement for engagement with a screw of the drive mechanism. The nut arrangement is laterally offset from a carriage of the carriage arrangement.

Abstract: A linear guide including a guide rail, a carriage, a drive screw and a connection arrangement is provided. The guide rail defines a linear travel path. The carriage is mounted to the guide rail for motion along the linear travel path. The drive screw is operably mounted to the guide rail. The connection arrangement couples the drive screw to the carriage to convert rotary motion of the drive screw to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path. The connection arrangement provides a single degree of linear freedom between the drive screw and the carriage in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the linear travel path. The single degree of linear freedom permits relative motion between the screw and the carriage to relieve internal binding between the relative components.

Abstract: A nut and lead screw assembly is disclosed. The nut includes a plurality of flexible fingers for adjusting the engagement of a threaded or unthreaded portion of the nut with corresponding threads of a lead screw. The engagement between the nut and the lead screw is adjusted by installing at least one radial compression member into a circumferential groove formed in the outer surface of the flexible fingers.

Abstract: A inverted spline rail system is provided. The inverted spline rail system includes a drive motor that rotates a drive screw. The drive screw has a associated nut body. The nut body includes a attachment portion that a user can attach a device that requires linear motion control. Furthermore, the nut body is located inside of a cylindrical body that encases the drive screw. The nut body has guide teeth that mate with an internally splined guide rail of the cylindrical body that contains both the nut and the drive screw. The reciprocating nature of the guide teeth of the nut and the internally splined guide rail of the cylindrical body translate the rotational motion of the drive screw into linear motion of the nut body. The inverted spline rail system is protected from its operating environment by a seal.

Abstract: An improved sliding bearing apparatus and method utilize a snap-in polymer bearing insert having one or more identically shaped locking lugs, each of which are configured for locking engagement with a corresponding depression in a bearing housing, to thereby lock the bearing insert in place against relative movement either radially or axially with respect to the bearing housing. In a free-standing state, the insert may have a variety of shapes including cylindrical, non-cylindrical, or be flat and planar. An insert for a closed bearing is configured such that it may be trimmed to form an insert for an open bearing.