Patents by Inventor Nicolas Vote
Nicolas Vote has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12623401Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2025Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20260070283Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes a first segment that is movable while the additive manufacturing machine deposits material, a second segment being configured to move relative to the first segment, and an extruder having a screw disposed within a barrel. The machine also includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a nozzle physically coupled to the second segment and configurable to: (i) translate along a first axis, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and along a third axis and (ii) dispense the material, and a controller configured to control a speed of the screw of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on increases or decreases in movement of the nozzle along at least two axes of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis, in operation during deposition of the material in an arc or corner.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2025Publication date: March 12, 2026Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 12496777Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes a first segment that is movable while the additive manufacturing machine deposits material, a second segment being configured to move relative to the first segment, and an extruder having a screw disposed within a barrel. The machine also includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a nozzle physically coupled to the second segment and configurable to: (i) translate along a first axis, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and along a third axis and (ii) dispense the material, and a controller configured to control a speed of the screw of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on increases or decreases in movement of the nozzle along at least two axes of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis, in operation during deposition of the material in an arc or corner.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2024Date of Patent: December 16, 2025Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20250340014Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2025Publication date: November 6, 2025Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 12384108Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2025Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20250162250Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2025Publication date: May 22, 2025Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Publication number: 20240391167Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes a first segment that is movable while the additive manufacturing machine deposits material, a second segment being configured to move relative to the first segment, and an extruder having a screw disposed within a barrel. The machine also includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a nozzle physically coupled to the second segment and configurable to: (i) translate along a first axis, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and along a third axis and (ii) dispense the material, and a controller configured to control a speed of the screw of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on increases or decreases in movement of the nozzle along at least two axes of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis, in operation during deposition of the material in an arc or corner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 12083743Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2023Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20240100773Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11872752Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20230219296Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 11607845Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20220305729Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 11383438Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Publication number: 20210362412Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 11104072Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 10688719Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Brian S. Smiddy, Scott G. Vaal
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Patent number: 10549477Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing methods. An exemplary method may include determining x and y coordinates for a tool path of an additive manufacturing machine, and calculating an angle of the tool path. The method may also include determining a position of a compression roller relative to the angle of the tool path, and moving the compression roller to position the compression roller relative to the angle of the tool path.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote
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Publication number: 20190322044Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Applicant: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. SUSNJARA, Nicolas VOTE, Robert GAESSER, Brian S. SMIDDY, Scott G. VAAL
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Patent number: 10377124Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Thermwood CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Nicolas Vote, Robert Gaesser, Scott G. Vaal