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Three-dimensional printer systems and methods

  • US 10,195,778 B2
  • Filed: 10/15/2014
  • Issued: 02/05/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A hot end for building three-dimensional objects from layered consumable material, the hot end comprising:

  • an extruder comprising an extrusion channel configured to direct consumable material through the extruder;

    a heating element in thermal communication with the extruder, the heating element configured to heat the consumable material passing through the extruder;

    an isolator comprising an isolator channel configured to direct the consumable material toward the extruder, the isolator being less thermally conductive relative to the extruder, wherein the isolator is sized to accept a filament tube within the isolator channel through at least a part of a length of the isolator channel along an extrusion direction of the consumable material through the hot end, the filament tube configured to direct the consumable material into the isolator; and

    a lining positioned within the isolator channel downstream of the filament tube along the extrusion direction, the internal tube configured to direct the consumable material along the isolator channel toward the extruder, wherein the lining has a higher melting or glass transition temperature relative to the filament tube,wherein when layering the consumable material to build a three-dimensional object, the heating element generates heat that is conducted through the extruder to the consumable material passing through the extrusion channel while the isolator mitigates heat transfer to the consumable material passing through the isolator channel.

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