Pattern Control Of Travel For A Forming Means (e.g., Depositing, Etc.) Patents (Class 425/375)
  • Patent number: 12083740
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes and systems of rapid prototyping and production. Its features includes flexible material deposition along tangential directions of surfaces of a part to be made, thereby eliminating stair-shape surface due to uniform horizontal layer deposition, increasing width of material deposition to increase build up rate, applying the principles of traditional forming/joining processes, such as casting, fusion welding, plastic extrusion and injection molding in the fabrication process so that various industrial materials can be processed, applying comparatively low cost heating sources, such as induction heating and arc-heating. Additional features include varying width and size of material deposition in accordance with geometry to be formed and applying a differential molding means for improved shape formation and surface finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Che-Chih Tsao, Cheng-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 12076929
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing control data for an additive manufacture device having a first step of accessing model data, and a second step of generating a data model in which a construction material layer region to be solidified during the production of an object section is specified for a construction material layer. The region to be solidified is divided into a first sub-region and a second sub-region, and a respective solidification scan of the region locations to be solidified is specified in a data model. The scan solidifying the construction material, and a repeated scan, is specified at the locations of the second sub-region but not at the locations of the first sub-region. The energy input parameter during the repeat scan is measured such that the temperature of the construction material lies above a melting temperature. The method further includes a third step of providing data models generated in the second step as control data for integrating into a control data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventor: Stefan Paternoster
  • Patent number: 12076921
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing a liquefier nozzle flexure to at least enable ironing of a 3D print, to thereby improve print quality. The apparatus, system and method may include: a controllable print head for providing the 3D print; a liquefier capable of liquefying deposit material for providing the 3D print; and the liquefier nozzle flexure mounted between the print head and the liquefier that allows a distance between the print head and the liquefier to vary when a resistance is encountered at a print nozzle tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Klimczak, Luke Rodgers, Darin Burgess
  • Patent number: 12042952
    Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic manufactured object including (i) a step of leveling a ceramic powder to form a powder layer, (ii) a step of irradiating the powder layer with a laser beam based on three-dimensional data to crystallize an irradiated site, and (iii) performing the steps (i) and (ii) in repetition, wherein in the step (ii), a surface of the powder layer is irradiated with the laser beam in an unfocused state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Yasui, Kanako Oshima, Hisato Yabuta
  • Patent number: 12036732
    Abstract: The invention relates to a 3D printing method and, in particular, a device and a method for setting an overfeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: VOXELJET AG
    Inventors: Ingo Ederer, Daniel Günther, Johannes Günther
  • Patent number: 12030210
    Abstract: Scalable 3D-printing of ceramics includes dispensing a preceramic polymer at the tip of a moving nozzle into a gel that can reversibly switch between fluid and solid states, and subsequently thermally cross-linking the entire printed part “at-once” while still inside the same gel. The solid gel, including mineral oil and silica nanoparticles, converts to fluid at the tip of the moving nozzle, allows the polymer solution to be dispensed, and quickly returns to a solid state to maintain the geometry of the printed polymer both during printing and the subsequent high temperature (160° C.) cross-linking. The cross-linked part is retrieved from the gel and converted to ceramic by high temperature pyrolysis. This scalable process opens new opportunities for low-cost, high-speed production of complex 3-dimensional ceramic parts, and will be widely used for high temperature and corrosive environment applications, including electronics and sensors, microelectromechanical systems, energy, and structural applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Majid Minary-Jolandan, Mohammadreza Mahmoudi, Scott R. Burlison, Chao Wang, Salvador Moreno
  • Patent number: 12023830
    Abstract: A shaping device includes a cutting unit configured to cut a first shaped product or an intermediate component formed by adding a shaping material to the first shaped product on a stage, and a control unit configured to control the cutting unit to cut the first shaped product or the intermediate component to shape a shaped object different from the first shaped product and the intermediate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenta Anegawa
  • Patent number: 12017412
    Abstract: In a method for producing a solid-body layer, an emitter array is provided. A support is rotationally positioned relative to the emitter array, about an axis of rotation, and material portions of a material that passes through the nozzles are applied to the support and solidified. The center point of the emitter farthest away from the axis of rotation has a first radial distance, and the emitter arranged closest to the axis of rotation has a second radial distance from the axis of rotation. A trigger signal is generated, which defines trigger points. A material dispensing signal is generated and temporarily stored, in each instance, for the individual emitters, as a function of geometry data and/or as a function of the position in which the emitter in question is arranged relative to the support, when the emitter is positioned at the corresponding trigger point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: 3D Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Mathea
  • Patent number: 12017410
    Abstract: A nozzle apparatus for a 3D printer employs a center post or shape and extrudes a circumferential, tubular form having a central void. The nozzle includes a radial arrangement of prongs or supports around a center post, which provides space for molten print medium to flow in a 360° form around the center post. The nozzle extrudes a hollow tubular form around the post that can lay a tube shaped article on a perpendicular print bed, or can be used to deposit high resolution, hollow cylindrical segments for forming lightweight articles with less volume of print medium required due to the hollow extruded shape. A stream of air or gas may be emitted into the center of the extrusion for maintaining a tubular shape. Other suitable shapes may be employed by altering the contour of the center post and the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Ethan R. Wilke, Loris Fichera, Nicholas E. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 12017414
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing methodology is disclosed for freeform fabrication of hydrophobic structures without the use of printed support structures. The build material is directly printed in and supported by a fumed silica-containing yield-stress support bath to form an intermediate article in the support bath material. The intermediate article may be liquid or only partially solidified after being printed into the support bath material. The intermediate article is then heated or irradiated with ultraviolet radiation to initiate cross-linking to solidify the printed intermediate article, forming a finished article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yong Huang, Yifei Jin, Nevada J. Gellermann, Kaidong Song
  • Patent number: 12011880
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to recoater systems for use with additive manufacturing systems. A recoater assembly may be adjustable along multiple degrees of freedom relative to a build surface, which may allow for adjustment of a spacing between the recoater assembly and the build surface and/or an orientation of the recoater assembly relative to an orientation of the build surface. In some embodiments, the recoater assembly may be supported by four support columns extending above the build surface, and attachments between the recoater assembly and the support columns may be independently adjustable to adjust the recoater relative to the build surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: VulcanForms Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Sweetland
  • Patent number: 12005643
    Abstract: A device for producing products having individual geometries, comprising a substrate carrier device, a material application device for applying material, and a control device coupled to the material application device. The material application device is coupled to an input interface for signaling and for selection of a first or a second application mode, the control device and the application device being designed in a first application mode to produce a three-dimensional product on the surface of a substrate plate by way of an additive production method. The control device and the application device are further designed such that in a second mode of application, one or more colors are applied to predetermined regions of a print substrate material connected to the substrate carrier device to produce a monochrome or polychrome print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BEGO MEDICAL GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Uckelmann, Simon Hoges
  • Patent number: 11993008
    Abstract: A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed on a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of the three-dimensional article, lowering the support structure a predetermined distance and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure, rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at selected locations of the first powder layer, the at least one first energy beam source causing the first powder layer on the stationary support structure which is stationary to fuse in the selected locations according to the model to form first portions of the three-dimensional article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: ARCAM AB
    Inventor: Calle Hellestam
  • Patent number: 11981076
    Abstract: A machine for additive manufacturing comprises a work top, a work area, a device for depositing a layer of powder onto the work area and a heat or energy source used to selectively consolidate a layer of powder, the device comprising a movable element for receiving powder moving relative to the work top and in the vicinity of the work area, a device for dispensing a bead of powder onto the movable element and a device for spreading the bead of powder. The movable element assuming the form of a translationally movable slide or the movable element rotationally moving around the work area, at least part of the upper surface of a movable element is located above the upper surface of the work top and/or at least part of the upper surface of a movable element is located below the upper surface of the work top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ADDUP
    Inventor: Jean-Baptiste Mottin
  • Patent number: 11981824
    Abstract: In the present invention, a photocurable composition for a support material for an inkjet 3D printer comprises a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an ionic group and a counter ion, and a water content is not more than 10 mass % in 100 mass % of the photocurable composition for a support material. It is preferably that the photocurable composition for a support material for an inkjet 3D printer further comprises a photopolymerization initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Mizoguchi, Yasunori Tsujino
  • Patent number: 11980939
    Abstract: An electromagnet alignment system for in-situ alignment of a magnetic particulate material is provided. The magnetic particulate material is dispensed through an orifice of a dispensing nozzle used for 3D printing. The system has an electromagnet assembly having a coil. The coil is configured to generate a pulsed magnetic field having a target magnetic flux intensity upon energization of the coil when the magnetic particulate material is being heated and moved through the dispensing nozzle. As a result, the magnetic particulate material is at least partially aligned with respect to a direction by the pulsed magnetic field. The system further includes a power source for implementing the energization of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Mariappan Parans Paranthaman, Brian K. Post, Brian C. Sales
  • Patent number: 11969914
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a scraper component of a three-dimensional printing device, which includes a scraper, a fixing frame, a pulley and a sliding rail, the scraper is installed on the fixing frame, and the pulley is set on at least one end of the fixing frame; the sliding rail has a horizontal first rail and a tilted and movable second rail, and a first end of the second rail is connected to the first rail and a second end is located on the first rail; when the pulley slides from a middle to an end of the first rail, the pulley enters the second rail from the first end and leaves the second rail from the second end then comes back to the first rail; when the pulley slides from an end to a middle of the first rail, the pulley passes through the second rail from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: PRISMLAB CHINA LTD.
    Inventor: Feng Hou
  • Patent number: 11969943
    Abstract: A hot bed deformation tolerance structure for a large-sized continuous fiber high-temperature 3D printer is provided. Size changes caused by thermal expansion of a hot bed are compensated through motion coordination of a secured hot bed support assembly and a motion device, especially for an aluminum alloy material. A Z-direction motion structure of this structure is fixedly mounted with a frame and works at room temperature. A compensation motion module is fixedly mounted with a Z axis and incompletely secured with the hot bed support assembly, and works at room temperature with the Z axis. The hot bed support assembly is incompletely secured and partially in a high-temperature chamber, with a maximum working temperature of 300° C. The hot bed support assembly retains motion redundancy in a direction of thermal expansion deformation, tolerates thermal deformation through a linear motion module, and compensates for metal deformation through horizontal motion coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Yiwei Chen, Jinghua Zheng, Zhongde Shan, Wenzhe Song, Congze Fan, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11969791
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine (10) comprises a working plane (18) comprising a working zone (20) allowing an overlay of different layers of powder to be received, and a powder dispensing device (32) comprising a powder intake (36) allowing powder to be delivered on top of the working plane. The powder dispensing device (32) comprises a tank (44) of powder mounted to move above the working plane (18) and that can be displaced to under the powder intake (36), the bottom part (45) of the tank (44) comprises a powder dispensing point (P1), and the powder dispensing device (32) comprises a control device (48) controlling the flow of powder via the powder dispensing point during a displacement of the tank. The tank (44) is mounted on a weighing sensor (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ADDUP
    Inventors: Albin Effernelli, Cedric Carlavan
  • Patent number: 11951515
    Abstract: Techniques for depowdering in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are provided that separate powder from parts by directing gas onto, or near to, the powder. While fragile green parts, such as green parts produced by binder jetting, may be fragile with respect to scraping or impacts, such parts may nonetheless be resistance to damage from directed gas, even if directed at a high pressure. Techniques for depowdering through directed application of gas may be automated, thereby mitigating challenges associated with manual depowdering operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Desktop Metal, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamison Go, Michael Santorella, Jonah Samuel Myerberg, Matthew McCambridge, Alexander LeGendre, Joseph Gabay, Robert J. Nick, Michael Goldblatt
  • Patent number: 11951679
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus can include a stage configured to hold a component formed by one or more layers of resin. A support plate can be positioned above the stage. A radiant energy device can be positioned above the stage. The radiant energy device can be operable to generate and project energy in a predetermined pattern. A feed module can be configured to operably couple with a first end portion of a resin support and can be positioned upstream of the stage. A take-up module can be configured to operably couple with a second end portion of the resin support and can be positioned downstream of the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mary Kathryn Thompson, Xi Yang, Meredith Elissa Dubelman, William Joseph Steele, Trent William Muhlenkamp, John Thomas Sterle, Christopher David Barnhill
  • Patent number: 11945161
    Abstract: A combined electrospinning and microextrusion apparatus includes a robotic manipulator having a plurality of degrees of freedom, an end effector supported and movable by the robotic manipulator, a plurality of extruders housed on the end effector, each extruder having an interchangeable nozzle for extrusion of material, a working plane for deposition of extruded material, a pneumatic circuit supplying a fluid flow to the extruders for controlling extrusion of material, and an electric generator selectively activatable to apply a potential difference between the nozzles of the extruders and the working plane. The extruders are capable of operating selectively in microextrusion mode with inactive electric generator or in electrospinning mode with active electric generator, in an independent manner from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA' DI PISA
    Inventors: Giovanni Vozzi, Aurora De Acutis, Carmelo De Maria, Guglielmo Pacetta
  • Patent number: 11945943
    Abstract: Methods of additive manufacturing, binder compositions for additive manufacturing, and articles produced by and/or associated with methods of additive manufacturing are generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Desktop Metal, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Benjamin Renner, Ilya L. Rushkin, Robert J. Nick, Emanuel M. Sachs
  • Patent number: 11939436
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a population of particles of a polymer, wherein the polymer is poly-butylene terephthalate (=PBT) or polyethylene terephthalate (=PET) or a copolymer comprising polybutylene terephthalate and/or polyethylene terephthalate, wherein the polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent which solvent is selected such that it completely solubilizes the polymer only at a temperature of the solvent above 100° C., wherein the method comprises heating the solvent and the solid polymer immersed in the solvent at least to a first temperature, at which first temperature the polymer completely dissolves, cooling the solution until a second temperature is reached at which second temperature clouding of the solution starts, further cooling the solution at a rate in a range of 0.05 ° C./min to 5° C./min or keeping the solution at the second temperature or at a temperature up to 3° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Alexander Dechet, Stephanie Kloos, Jochen Schmidt, Wolfgang Peukert
  • Patent number: 11919212
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to hollow profiles and methods of preparing the same for joining operations. A method herein can include placing a dam within a channel defined by the hollow profile, fitting a die block over an end of the channel, and injecting a flowable composition through an injection port into the channel. Another method can include defining a volume within a first member using at least one flow control device, filling the defined volume with a flowable polymeric composition, allowing the flowable polymeric composition to solidify to form a solid portion in the first member, and mechanically modifying the solid portion to define a joining surface suitable for joining to the second member. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Michael Johnson, Jared Asa Shanholtzer, Justin Michael Depew, Paul Michael Allan Morris, William Peter Gengler, Jeffrey Lee Skeels, Justin John Reinke
  • Patent number: 11911953
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing device and method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, and compressing the flowable material with a compression roller. In one embodiment, the device includes a nozzle configured to deposit a flowable material on a surface; and a roller configured to compress the deposited flowable material, wherein the roller comprises: a flat center portion having a constant diameter; and opposed end portions, wherein each end portion extends outwardly from the flat center portion, and wherein a radially outermost surface of each end portion is angled relative a rotational axis of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 11904548
    Abstract: A varying a composition of build material used for a three dimensional (3D) part formed by a 3D printer are disclosed. In a system provided, a number of vessels for build material are included, wherein each vessel includes a feeder coupled to a conveying system. The conveying system conveys and blends build material from the vessels. A controller is configured to adjust a composition of the build material by adjusting an amount of material added from each of the vessels by controlling the feeder on each of the vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: David R. Otis, Jr., Kevin E. Swier, Adam Peter Franks
  • Patent number: 11904539
    Abstract: A device for simultaneous 3D printing of a plurality of objects, including a plurality of printing heads and a plurality of object holders each associated with one of the printing heads, wherein: the printing heads and the object holders can be moved relative to one another along three translation axes in three spatial dimensions by at least three translation actuators; the printing heads are arranged on exactly one carrier element and the object holders are arranged on one or more object holder carriers, or the printing heads are arranged on a plurality of carrier elements and the object holders are arranged on exactly one object holder carrier; the printing heads are arranged on the one carrier element or the plurality of carrier elements at an offset along at least two of the three translation axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NEOTECH AMT GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Hedges, Mirko Süttenbach
  • Patent number: 11897198
    Abstract: A method of separating excess resin from at least one object, includes: (a) stereolithographically producing at least one object on at least one carrier platform, each carrier platform having a planar build surface to which at least one object is connected, each object carrying excess resin on a surface thereof; then (b) mounting each carrier platform to a rotor; (c) centrifugally separating excess resin from each object by spinning the rotor with each carrier platform connected thereto while each object remains connected to each carrier platform; and then (d) removing each carrier platform from the rotor with each object thereon, with excess resin separated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murillo, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11872751
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer comprises a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: David K. Biegelsen
  • Patent number: 11872766
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The method comprises sequentially forming a plurality of layers each patterned according to the shape of a cross section of the object. In some embodiments, the formation of at least one of the layers comprises performing a raster scan to dispense at least a first building material composition, and a vector scan to dispense at least a second building material composition. The vector scan is optionally along a path selected to form at least one structure selected from the group consisting of (i) an elongated structure, (ii) a boundary structure at least partially surrounding an area filled with the first building material, and (iii) an inter-layer connecting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Stratasys Ltd.
    Inventor: Eduardo Napadensky
  • Patent number: 11872748
    Abstract: A method for the additive manufacturing of a composite component in which a fluid matrix material by way of an additive manufacture is introduced successively into a manufacturing device with the formation of an additively manufactured component. A reinforcing element is at least partly introduced into the fluid matrix material and/or arranged on the fluid matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baranowski, Maik Broda, Markus Franzen, Pascal Rebmann
  • Patent number: 11865788
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Susnjara
  • Patent number: 11865778
    Abstract: The disclosure is of and includes at least an apparatus, system and method for a print head for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include at least two proximate hobs suitable to receive and extrude therebetween a print material filament for the additive manufacturing, each of the two hobs comprising two halves, wherein each of the hob halves comprises teeth that are offset with respect to the teeth of the opposing hob half; a motor capable of imparting a rotation to at least one of the two hobs, wherein the extrusion results from the rotation; and an interface to a hot end capable of outputting the print material filament after at least partial liquification to perform the additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: William MacNeish, Erik Gjovik
  • Patent number: 11865776
    Abstract: A 3D printer for printing consumable items, the 3D printer comprising: a print head arranged to position nozzles of a plurality of liquid dispensers to define a regular polygon around a first Z axis; an actuator device operable to dispense a portion of liquid from each liquid dispenser; a print bed comprising a print zone, the print zone comprising a plurality of print locations arranged to define a regular polygon around a second Z axis; a translation device operable to move the print bed relative to the print head along X and Y axes; and a rotation device operable to cause relative rotation between the print zone and the print head such that, with the first Z axis aligned with the second Z axis, the actuator is operable to dispense liquid from each liquid dispenser onto a respective print location and thereafter the rotation device is operable to cause relative rotation between the print zone and the print head to place each print location in registration with a different one of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: REM3DY HEALTH LIMITED
    Inventors: Melissa Snover Burton, Martyn Catchpole
  • Patent number: 11858206
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to recoater systems for use with additive manufacturing systems. A recoater assembly may be used to deposit a material layer onto a build surface of an additive manufacturing system. In some instances, the recoater assembly may include a powder entrainment system that trails behind a recoater blade of the recoater assembly relative to a direction of motion of the recoater blade across a build surface of the additive manufacturing system. The powder entrainment system may generate a flow of fluid across a portion of the build surface behind the recoater blade that at least temporarily entrains powder above a threshold height from the build surface to mitigate, or prevent, the formation of defects on the build surface with heights greater than the threshold height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: VulcanForms Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Sweetland
  • Patent number: 11845130
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rotational additive manufacturing are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a build floor, a depositor system configured to deposit a layer of powder onto the build floor, a motor system causing a rotational motion between the depositor system and the build floor, wherein the depositor system deposits the layer of powder during the rotational motion, a receptacle wall configured to contain the powder on the build floor, an energy beam source configured to apply an energy beam in an active area of the layer of powder to selectively fuse a portion of the powder in the active area to form a portion of a build piece and a gas flow system configured to provide a gas flow across the active area while the energy beam selectively fuses the portion of the layer of powder in the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Kenworthy, Samuel Noah Miller, Krzysztof Artysiewicz, Chor Yen Yap, Gregory S. Weaver
  • Patent number: 11833716
    Abstract: A method for producing a roofing detail part for sealing a roof element, the method including the steps of: (a) providing and/or obtaining a digital model of a roof element to be sealed; and (b) based on the digital model, producing a roofing detail part fitting on the outer shape of the roof element by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SIKA TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Roy Z'rotz, Simon Schoenbrodt, Herbert Ackermann
  • Patent number: 11833820
    Abstract: A nozzle structure for discharging printing material onto a substrate is presented. The nozzle structure comprises a tubular member having a distal part that faces the printing plane when in operation and defining an elongated inner cavity along the tubular member for placement a filament printing material. The tubular member comprises light input ports on the proximal part thereof for directing light toward inner surfaces thereof. The tubular member has an elongated tube portion and a distal tip portion at the distal part thereof, configured and operable as a light guide trapping and guiding the input light along the tubular member in a general direction toward the distal part, thereby continuously transferring light field to distal regions of the elongated inner cavity. The distal tip portion is configured to allow the trapped light to escape towards the printing plane, thereby heating a location on the printing plane facing the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Laser Engineering & Development Itd.
    Inventors: Imre Czinkota, Gabor Molnar, Viktor Tabor, Robert Bobrovniczki, Peter Bajcsi
  • Patent number: 11826792
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing excess material, preferably a powder, from a cavity of a component, wherein the apparatus includes: a platform for retaining the component, preferably an additively manufactured component, a drive mechanism being coupled to the platform, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the component being retained by the platform independently around two orthogonal spatial directions and each with an unlimited angular deflection, an actuator for mechanically actuating the platform during a removal of the excess material, and a housing, defining a working space in which the excess material can be removed from the cavity, wherein the housing seals the working space against an environment, and wherein any electrical components for the drive mechanism are arranged out of the working space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Yaroslav Lebed
  • Patent number: 11766827
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing device includes a shaping table, layer forming portions configured to form a powder layer on the shaping table, a head 3 configured to discharge, from a nozzle, a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region of a three-dimensional shaped object in the powder layer, and a control unit configured to control a movement of the head with respect to the shaping table and a drive of the head by applying a voltage, in which the control unit performs control to, after the liquid is discharged to the shaping region, execute a flushing operation of discharging the liquid from the nozzle to a flushing position different from the shaping region, and set an applied voltage during the flushing operation higher than an applied voltage when the liquid is discharged to the shaping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Okamoto, Akihiko Tsunoya
  • Patent number: 11752692
    Abstract: This disclosure describes three-dimensional printing kits, methods, and systems for three-dimensional printing with phosphorescent pigments. In one example, a three-dimensional printing kit can include a powder bed material and a low-tint fusing agent. The powder bed material can include polymer particles and phosphorescent pigment particles mixed with the polymer particles. The low-tint fusing agent can include water and an electromagnetic radiation absorber. The electromagnetic radiation absorber can absorb radiation energy and convert the absorbed radiation energy to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Emre Hiro Discekici, Alexey S. Kabalnov, Graciela Emma Negri Jimenez, Shannon Reuben Woodruff
  • Patent number: 11752689
    Abstract: A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object and a support construction for the 3D object includes depositing a model material, layer-by-layer, on a fabrication platform, to print a first portion of the 3D object, and depositing a support material, layer-by-layer on the fabrication platform, to print the support construction, wherein, in a predetermined number of the deposited layers, the model material and the support material are deposited such that a gap is formed between a surface of the first portion of the 3D object and a surface of the support construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: STRATASYS LTD
    Inventors: Daniel Dikovsky, Eduardo Napadensky, Shai Hirsch, Evgeni Levin, Yoav Bressler
  • Patent number: 11745425
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Seurat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. DeMuth, Erik Toomre, Francis L. Leard, Kourosh Kamshad, Heiner Fees, Eugene Berdichevsky
  • Patent number: 11738513
    Abstract: Auxiliary material handling units for additive manufacturing (AM), AM methods, methods of handling auxiliary material of an AM system, active print head cleaning devices, feedstock container modules, and related systems are provided. An auxiliary material handling unit (AMHU) includes a material displacer having at least one entry port through which auxiliary material from an AM system is received, wherein the material displacer displaces the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. A method of handling auxiliary material of an AM system includes receiving auxiliary material from the AM system in a material displacer having at least one entry port; and, with the material displacer, displacing the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. Displaced auxiliary material may be processed with a material processing unit and/or collected in a collection reservoir. At least one sensor may provide feedback to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MOSAIC MANUFACTURING LTD.
    Inventors: Mitchell Oliver Debora, Derek Alan Vogt
  • Patent number: 11731367
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy toward the stage. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A feed module is configured to support a feed roll of a resin support upstream of the stage about a feed mandrel. A first control device is operably coupled with the feed mandrel. A take-up module is configured to support a take-up roll of the resin support downstream of the stage about a take-up mandrel. A second control device is operably coupled with the take-up mandrel. A computing system is operably coupled with one or more sensors. The computing system is configured to provide commands to at least one of the first control device or the second control device to respectively rotate the first control device or the second control device to obtain a target tension on the resin support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhen Liu, Trent William Muhlenkamp, Christopher David Barnhill
  • Patent number: 11724449
    Abstract: A 3D printer includes a multi-axis robot arm comprising a deposition end effector, a rotating adjustable print stage comprising a rotary unit and a mandrel, the rotating adjustable print stage configured to rotate the mandrel around a rotation axis, and a control unit. The control unit may be configured to move the robotic arm in a radial dimension and a longitudinal dimension with respect to the mandrel to position the deposition end effector with respect to the mandrel, rotate the mandrel with the rotary unit, and cause the deposition end effector to deposit constituent on the mandrel to form a 3D-printed construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Advanced Solutions Life Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Douglas Cambron, Kyle Eli, Brandon Hanke
  • Patent number: 11724445
    Abstract: A method of making a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing from a blended resin including (i) at least one light polymerizable first component and, (ii) at least one, or a plurality of, second solidifiable components that are different from said first component, the method including: providing a first resin and a second resin, where the resins produce three-dimensional objects having different mechanical properties from one another when all are produced under the same process conditions; mixing the first and second resins with one another to produce the blended resin, the blended resin producing a three-dimensional object having mechanical properties intermediate between that of objects produced by the first and second resins when all are produced under the same process conditions; and dispensing the blended resin to the build region of an additive manufacturing apparatus; and then optionally but preferably producing a three-dimensional object from the blended resin in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Rolland, Courtney F. Converse, Oshin Nazarian, Matthew Panzer
  • Patent number: 11712840
    Abstract: An apparatus for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object formed by successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of build material layers by at least one energy beam in a build area of the apparatus is provided, along with methods thereof. The apparatus may comprise a first build material supply device configured to supply an amount of build material to a first build material application device; wherein the first build material application device is configured to apply an amount of build material in the build area of the apparatus; and a second build material supply device configured to supply an amount of build material to a second build material application device, wherein the second build material application device is configured to apply an amount of build material to the supply area of the first build material supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Domenik Braunroth
  • Patent number: 11712843
    Abstract: A binder jet printing apparatus (10), along with methods of its use, is provided. The binder jet printing apparatus (10) may include: a job box (18) having a actuatable build plate (46) therein; a supply box (54) having a bottom platform (56) that is actuatable within the supply box (54); a print system including at least one print head (32) connected to a binder source (38) and configured to apply a pattern of binder onto an exposed powder layer (42) over the build plate (46) of the job box (18); a recoat system (16) including a recoater configured to move from the supply box (54) to the job box (18) to transfer powder from the supply box (54) to the job box (18) so as to form a new powder layer (48) over the build plate (46) of the job box (18); and a cure system (14) configured to direct electromagnetic radiation onto the job box (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vadim Bromberg, Victor Wayne Fulton, Carlos H. Bonilla, Travis Gene Sands, Brian Harlow Farrell, Joseph Lucian Smolenski, Younkoo Jeong, Glen Charles Fedyk