Abstract: An improved 3D printer includes an airflow enabled print bed ensuring secure placement of a print base prior to printing. The modular assembly technique provides for improved ease of manufacture and assembly, as well as adjustments of print sizing. The improved printhead includes a heat sink disposed internally therein for improved heat and cooling properties. The printhead itself includes z-axis position detection techniques. The inclusion of VSU insertion techniques in software modeling and printing further improves the print operations by including vertical stability for the print object.

Abstract: An improved 3D printer includes an airflow enabled print bed ensuring secure placement of a print base prior to printing. The modular assembly technique provides for improved ease of manufacture and assembly, as well as adjustments of print sizing. The improved printhead includes a heat sink disposed internally therein for improved heat and cooling properties. The printhead itself includes z-axis position detection techniques. The inclusion of VSU insertion techniques in software modeling and printing further improves the print operations by including vertical stability for the print object.

Abstract: An improved 3D printer includes an airflow enabled print bed ensuring secure placement of a print base prior to printing. The modular assembly technique provides for improved ease of manufacture and assembly, as well as adjustments of print sizing. The improved printhead includes a heat sink disposed internally therein for improved heat and cooling properties. The printhead itself includes z-axis position detection techniques. The inclusion of VSU insertion techniques in software modeling and printing further improves the print operations by including vertical stability for the print object.

Abstract: A 3D printer calibration system and method includes a controller controlling movement of the 3D printer printhead in a first axis, such as the z-axis. The printhead includes a hotend for depositing material to generate the 3D printing. The hotend is connected to the printhead via a connector being moveable along the first axis. The hotend further includes an arm that extends outward from the side of the hotend. An optical sensor assembly is affixed to the printhead, the optical sensor assembly that has a light emitter and a light detector. The controller calibrates a starting position for the printhead based on the first axis deflection of the hotend as detected by the optical sensor assembly. The connector allowing first axis deflection of the hotend distinct from the first axis movement of the printhead.

Abstract: A 3D printer calibration system and method includes a controller controlling movement of the 3D printer printhead in a first axis, such as the z-axis. The printhead includes a hotend for depositing material to generate the 3D printing. The hotend is connected to the printhead via a connector being moveable along the first axis. The hotend further includes an arm that extends outward from the side of the hotend. An optical sensor assembly is affixed to the printhead, the optical sensor assembly that has a light emitter and a light detector. The controller calibrates a starting position for the printhead based on the first axis deflection of the hotend as detected by the optical sensor assembly. The connector allowing first axis deflection of the hotend distinct from the first axis movement of the printhead.

Abstract: A system to leverage functional knowledge by a design tool in an engineering project includes a functional knowledge repository created by modeling a plurality of requirements of the engineering project and a requirement and space planning tool interfacing between the functional knowledge repository and the design tool. The requirement and space planning tool includes a requirements wizard to capture the plurality of requirements of the engineering project, a designer graphical user interface to display a preliminary design representing the plurality of requirements and functionality to modify the plurality of requirements, and a design tool interface to transfer the plurality of requirements and the preliminary design between the design tool and the functional knowledge repository.

Abstract: A method of leveraging functional knowledge in an engineering project includes obtaining a first requirement of the engineering project, creating a first attributed entity, associating the first attributed entity with the first requirement to obtain a first attributed requirement, obtaining a second requirement of the engineering project, creating a second attributed entity, associating the second attributed entity with the second requirement to obtain a second attributed requirement, defining a plurality of constraints based on at least one of the first attributed requirement and the second attributed requirement, applying the plurality of constraints if one of the first attributed requirement and the second attributed requirement is modified, and providing notice if at least one of the plurality of constraints is violated.