System and method for adjusting the speed of a multi-nozzle extruder during additive manufacturing with reference to an angular orientation of the extruder
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a platform configured to support an object during manufacturing;
an extruder having a plurality of nozzles;
at least one actuator operatively connected to at least one of the extruder and the platform, the at least one actuator being configured to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform relative to the other of the extruder and the platform; and
a controller operatively connected to the extruder and the at least one actuator, the controller being configured to;
select an angle for a path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform with reference to a swath of thermoplastic material from the extruder being placed within an interior portion of the object or on an exterior of the object;
select a number of nozzles in the extruder for extrusion of the thermoplastic material, the selected number of nozzles being at least two nozzles and up to all of the nozzles in the plurality of nozzles;
operate the extruder to extrude the swath of thermoplastic material through the selected number of nozzles of the extruder using object image data and extruder path data to form a swath of thermoplastic material along the path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform;
operate the at least one actuator to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform along the path of relative movement at a predetermined speed;
select the predetermined speed for the extruder along the path of relative movement to be less than a nominal speed when movement of the extruder at the selected angle along the path of relative movement at the nominal speed and at a predetermined orientation of a faceplate of the extruder produces gaps between the thermoplastic material extruded from the selected number of nozzles of the extruder to make the swath of the thermoplastic material contiguous in a cross-process direction; and
adjust the selected predetermined speed using the number of selected nozzles and a misalignment parameter for the extruder.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An additive manufacturing system operates an extruder to extrude a swath of thermoplastic material through at least two nozzles of the extruder to form a swath of thermoplastic material along a path of relative movement between the extruder and a platform. The speed of the extruder along the path corresponds to a predetermined speed selected with reference to an orientation of the extruder and the angle for the path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform. A controller in the system operates at least one actuator operatively connected to at least one of the extruder and the platform to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform relative to the other of the extruder and the platform along the path of relative movement at the predetermined speed to make the swath of the thermoplastic material contiguous in a cross-process direction.
12 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a platform configured to support an object during manufacturing; an extruder having a plurality of nozzles; at least one actuator operatively connected to at least one of the extruder and the platform, the at least one actuator being configured to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform relative to the other of the extruder and the platform; and a controller operatively connected to the extruder and the at least one actuator, the controller being configured to; select an angle for a path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform with reference to a swath of thermoplastic material from the extruder being placed within an interior portion of the object or on an exterior of the object; select a number of nozzles in the extruder for extrusion of the thermoplastic material, the selected number of nozzles being at least two nozzles and up to all of the nozzles in the plurality of nozzles; operate the extruder to extrude the swath of thermoplastic material through the selected number of nozzles of the extruder using object image data and extruder path data to form a swath of thermoplastic material along the path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform; operate the at least one actuator to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform along the path of relative movement at a predetermined speed; select the predetermined speed for the extruder along the path of relative movement to be less than a nominal speed when movement of the extruder at the selected angle along the path of relative movement at the nominal speed and at a predetermined orientation of a faceplate of the extruder produces gaps between the thermoplastic material extruded from the selected number of nozzles of the extruder to make the swath of the thermoplastic material contiguous in a cross-process direction; and adjust the selected predetermined speed using the number of selected nozzles and a misalignment parameter for the extruder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of operating an additive manufacturing system comprising:
-
selecting an angle for a path of relative movement between the extruder and the platform with reference to a swath of thermoplastic material to be extruded from the extruder being placed within an interior portion of the object or on an exterior of the object; selecting a number of nozzles in the extruder for extrusion of the thermoplastic material, the selected number of nozzles being at least two nozzles and up to all of the nozzles in the plurality of nozzles; operating with a controller an extruder to extrude a swath of thermoplastic material through the selected number of nozzles of the extruder using object image data and extruder path data to form a swath of thermoplastic material along the path of relative movement between the extruder and a platform that supports the object being formed with the thermoplastic material; selecting with the controller a predetermined speed that is less than a nominal speed for the extruder along the relative path of movement between the extruder and the platform when movement of the extruder at an angle along the path of relative movement at the nominal speed and at a predetermined orientation of a faceplate of the extruder produces gaps between the extruded thermoplastic material from the selected number of nozzles to make the swath of the thermoplastic material contiguous in a cross-process direction; operating with the controller at least one actuator operatively connected to at least one of the extruder and the platform to move the at least one of the extruder and the platform relative to the other of the extruder and the platform along the path of relative movement at the selected predetermined speed to make the swath of the thermoplastic material contiguous in a cross-process direction; and adjusting the selected predetermined speed using the number of selected nozzles and a misalignment parameter for the extruder. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
Specification