Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a complex hollow article from a flexible polymer material. The method includes using an additive manufacturing system to form a precursory structure that is formed from a build material and phase change material, melting and removing the phase change material, injecting uncured liquid flexible polymer material into a cavity defined by the build material, curing and solidifying the flexible polymer material, and cracking and removing the build material from the flexible polymer material to provide the hollow article.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 4, 2020
Publication date:
March 4, 2021
Inventors:
Evan Kuester, Joseph Fulerton, Christopher Schneider
Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a complex hollow article from a flexible polymer material. The method includes using an additive manufacturing system to form a precursory structure that is formed from a build material and phase change material, melting and removing the phase change material, injecting uncured liquid flexible polymer material into a cavity defined by the build material, curing and solidifying the flexible polymer material, and cracking and removing the build material from the flexible polymer material to provide the hollow article.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 4, 2020
Date of Patent:
November 8, 2022
Assignee:
3D SYSTEMS, INC.
Inventors:
Evan Kuester, Joseph Fulerton, Christopher Schneider
Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing includes a processor and an information storage device. The information storage device includes a non-transient or non-volatile device storing software instructions. In response to execution by the processor, the software instructions cause the apparatus to: receive initial data defining the three-dimensional article having an outer surface, define a shell having the outer surface of the three-dimensional article and an opposing inner surface that defines an inner cavity, define a boundary in the inner cavity that further defines an outer lattice volume between the inner surface of the shell and the boundary and an inner volume inside the boundary, and define a lattice that fills the outer lattice volume.
Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing includes a processor and an information storage device. The information storage device includes a non-transient or non-volatile device storing software instructions. In response to execution by the processor, the software instructions cause the apparatus to: receive initial data defining the three-dimensional article having an outer surface, define a shell having the outer surface of the three-dimensional article and an opposing inner surface that defines an inner cavity, define a three-dimensional lattice within the inner cavity that couples to the inner surface of the shell, identify an unsupported contour of the inner surface of the shell that extends downwardly into the cavity, and define a segment that couples the unsupported contour to the lattice.
Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing includes a processor and an information storage device. The information storage device includes a non-transient or non-volatile device storing software instructions. In response to execution by the processor, the software instructions cause the apparatus to: receive initial data defining the three-dimensional article having an outer surface, define a shell having the outer surface of the three-dimensional article and an opposing inner surface that defines an inner cavity, define a boundary in the inner cavity that further defines an outer lattice volume between the inner surface of the shell and the boundary and an inner volume inside the boundary, and define a lattice that fills the outer lattice volume.
Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing includes a processor and an information storage device storing software instructions. In response to execution by the processor, the software instructions cause the apparatus to: receive initial data defining the three-dimensional article having an outer surface, define a shell having the outer surface of the three-dimensional article and an opposing inner surface that defines an inner cavity, define a transition zone between the inner surface of the shell and a boundary that is inside the inner cavity and generally follows the inner surface of the shell, define a lattice of arrayed unit cells that fill the inside of the boundary, the lattice is defined by connected lattice segments, and define transition segments that couple the lattice to the inner surface of the shell.
Abstract: An article is configured for transferring tissue cores from a patient donor site to a patient wound site. The article includes a matrix construction of resilient elastomeric polymer material to support an array of tissue core locators individually defining an opening and individually configured to: (1) receive a tissue core from the donor site into the opening, (2) resiliently hold the tissue core at the opening until and after the sheet is placed upon the wound site, and (3) release the tissue core when the sheet is removed from the wound site at a time that is between 2 and 29 days after the sheet is placed upon the wound site.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 13, 2021
Publication date:
June 16, 2022
Inventors:
Charles R. Sperry, Ayn Lavagnino, Vincent Piucci, Karl Wassmann, Evan Kuester, John Stockwell, Peter Scott Turner, Pingyong Xu
Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a print engine and a controller. The controller in turn includes a processor coupled to a non-transient memory. The non- transient memory stores software instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to operate the print engine to fabricate a body. The body includes a three-dimensional arrangement of 3D articles that are pairwise coupled together. An individual pair of the arrangement of 3D articles includes a first article and a second article. A curved body couples a first surface of the first article to the second article. The curved body intersects the first surface to define a closed intersection curve that bounds a break surface. Along the closed intersection curve a surface of the curved body subtends an acute angle with the first surface.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 17, 2020
Publication date:
May 20, 2021
Inventors:
Colin Leonard Blain, Joseph Chang, Evan Kuester
Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a print engine, a fluid processing station, a fixture, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The fluid processing station includes a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source. The fixture has a lower portion with a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the print engine to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face and thereby defining an internal cavity and an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (c) Transfer the fixture to the fluid processing station. (d) Couple the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (e) Operate the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port and into the internal cavity.
Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a print engine, a fluid processing station, a fixture, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The fluid processing station includes a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source. The fixture has a lower portion with a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the print engine to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face and thereby defining an internal cavity and an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (c) Transfer the fixture to the fluid processing station. (d) Couple the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (e) Operate the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port and into the internal cavity.
Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a print engine and a controller. The controller in turn includes a processor coupled to a non-transient memory. The non-transient memory stores software instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to operate the print engine to fabricate a body. The body includes a three-dimensional arrangement of 3D articles that are pairwise coupled together. An individual pair of the arrangement of 3D articles includes a first article and a second article. A curved body couples a first surface of the first article to the second article. The curved body intersects the first surface to define a closed intersection curve that bounds a break surface. Along the closed intersection curve a surface of the curved body subtends an acute angle with the first surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2020
Date of Patent:
November 1, 2022
Assignee:
3D SYSTEMS, INC.
Inventors:
Colin Leonard Blain, Joseph Chang, Evan Kuester
Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing includes a processor and an information storage device storing software instructions. In response to execution by the processor, the software instructions cause the apparatus to: receive initial data defining the three-dimensional article having an outer surface, define a shell having the outer surface of the three-dimensional article and an opposing inner surface that defines an inner cavity, define a transition zone between the inner surface of the shell and a boundary that is inside the inner cavity and generally follows the inner surface of the shell, define a lattice of arrayed unit cells that fill the inside of the boundary, the lattice is defined by connected lattice segments, and define transition segments that couple the lattice to the inner surface of the shell.
Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a print engine, a fluid processing station, a fixture, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The fluid processing station includes a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source. The fixture has a lower portion with a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the print engine to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face and thereby defining an internal cavity and an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (c) Transfer the fixture to the fluid processing station. (d) Couple the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (e) Operate the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port and into the internal cavity.
Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a print engine, a fluid processing station, a fixture, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The fluid processing station includes a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source. The fixture has a lower portion with a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the print engine to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face and thereby defining an internal cavity and an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (c) Transfer the fixture to the fluid processing station. (d) Couple the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (e) Operate the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port and into the internal cavity.
Abstract: An intelligent alerting and locating communication system includes a centrally located scanner which communicates with a plurality of remotely located receivers to continuously monitor conditions through a plurality of detectors associated with each receiver, including smoke detectors and motion detectors, and through personal radio transmitters. Each detector detects an off-normal state in a monitored condition and makes an indication that is sensed by at least one receiver which stores the occurrence in memory. Each radio frequency transmitter emits a unique coded signal which is received by one or more receivers. If the coded signal is in a valid format, the coded signal is stored in memory. If the coded signal matches a unique code assigned to that receiver, a matched code signal is generated and also stored in memory.