ADJUSTABLE HEAD MOUNT FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEM

• US 20100100224A1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Inventors: Coolidge, Troy M., Styer, Robert E., Comb, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,153,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/118
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/209 Heads; Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/25 Housings, e.g. machine housings

Abstract

A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.

Claims

1. A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, the head mount comprising:

a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system; and

a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and further configured to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system.

2. The head mount of claim 1, wherein the second component is pivotally secured to the first component around a pivot axis, and wherein the relative movement of the second component relative to the first component comprising a pivoting movement around the pivot axis.

3. The head mount of claim 1, and further comprising at least one biasing component configured to bias the second component relative to the first component.

4. The head mount of claim 3, wherein the biasing of the second component relative to the first component causes the deposition head to attain a substantially repeatable position along an axis of movement of the platform assembly.

5. The head mount of claim 1, and further comprising at least one biasing component configured to bias the second component relative to the first component along at least one axis that is different from an axis that the second component is configured to move relative to the first component.

6. The head mount of claim 1, and further comprising at least one mechanism that is configured to at least partially restrict a range of movement of the second component relative to the first component.

7. The head mount of claim 6, wherein the at least one mechanism comprises:

a bearing hook secured to the first component; and

a hook extension secured to the second component, wherein the hook extension is configured to engage with the bearing hook to at least partially restrict the range of movement.

8. A digital manufacturing system comprising:

a deposition head configured to deposit at least one modeling material;

a platform assembly configured to operably receive the at least one deposited modeling material, and configured to move substantially along a first axis;

a head mount configured to retain the deposition head in a manner that allows the deposition head to move under an applied load from the platform assembly.

9. The digital manufacturing system of claim 8, wherein the manner in which the head mount retains the deposition head further allows the deposition head to attain a substantially repeatable position along the first axis.

10. The digital manufacturing system of claim 8, and further comprising at least one gantry configured to move the head mount substantially along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the head mount comprises:

a first component supported by the at least one gantry; and

a second component moveably secured to the first component, and configured to retain the deposition head.

11. The digital manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the second component is pivotally connected to the first component around a pivot axis.

12. The digital manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the head mount further comprises at least one biasing component configured to bias the second component relative to the first component.

13. The digital manufacturing system of claim 8, and further comprising at least one safety mechanism configured to restrict a range of movement of the platform assembly along the first axis.

14. The digital manufacturing system of claim 13, wherein the manner in which the deposition head is retained by the head mount allows the deposition head to move to a location along the first axis that is outside of the range of movement of the platform assembly.

15. A method of operating a digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:

retaining a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system in a head mount of the digital manufacturing system;

moving a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system in a first direction along a first axis;

applying a load to the deposition head in the first direction by the movement of the platform assembly in the first direction; and

moving the deposition head and at least a portion of the head mount in response to the applied load from the platform assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, and further comprising biasing at least a portion of the head mount in a direction that at least partially counters the load applied to the deposition head.

17. The method of claim 15, and further comprising restricting a range of movement of the platform assembly in the first direction with at least one safety mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the deposition head in response to the applied load comprises moving the deposition head to a location along the first axis that is outside of the range of movement of the platform assembly.

19. The method of claim 15, and further comprising:

moving the platform assembly in a second direction along the first axis, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction; and

biasing the deposition head to a substantially repeatable position along the first axis.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the deposition head and the portion of the head mount in response to the applied load from the platform assembly comprises pivoting the deposition head and the portion of the head mount around a pivot axis.