Patents by Inventor Steven James Craigen

Steven James Craigen 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).

  • Publication number: 20250128474
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing includes a build chamber that has a central portion and a peripheral portion, a support platform positioned in the central portion and a recoater arm movable in a lateral direction over the support platform. While moving, the recoater arm spreads a powder over the central portion during a build. The additive manufacturing system also includes a powder recycling system positioned to redirect excess amounts of the powder during the build. For example, the powder recycling system can include a powder receptacle positioned the second region of the peripheral portion and a recycling element positioned at least partially in the powder receptacle. The recycling element is movable between a first position abutting an overflow space in the powder receptacle to receive the excess powder and a second position closer to the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventor: Steven James Craigen
  • Publication number: 20250128327
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber that has an active build region, a support platform positioned in the active build region and movable in an upward direction, and a recoater arm positioned in the build chamber and movable in a first lateral direction above the active build region. The recoater arm can spread a powder over the active build region during a build process using first and second blades. The recoater arm can also include at least one orifice component positioned between the first and second blades to block a flow of the powder while the at least one orifice component is stationary and a vibrational component operably coupled to the at least one orifice component. The additive manufacturing system can also include a controller operably coupled to the vibrational component, to control operation of the vibrational component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Steven James Craigen, Ramiro Cecchet, Michael J. Panzarella, Brian Barnes
  • Publication number: 20250128332
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber that has active build region, a support platform positioned in the active build region, a recoater arm, and a chamber-purging system. The recoater arm is movable in a lateral direction along a travel path above the active build region to spread a powder over the active build region. The chamber-purging system includes extendable input and return channels that are movable between a first position outside the travel path and a second position at least partially within the travel path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Steven James Craigen, Michael J. Panzarella
  • Publication number: 20240083105
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling additive manufacturing processes are disclosed. The systems can include multiple laser directors, soot-removal devices, magnetic chucks, replenishable powder distribution blades, automated powder level detectors, and/or overall process automation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Landon Luick, Steven James Craigen
  • Patent number: 11890807
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling additive manufacturing processes are disclosed. The systems can include multiple laser directors, soot-removal devices, magnetic chucks, replenishable powder distribution blades, automated powder level detectors, and/or overall process automation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventors: Landon Luick, Steven James Craigen