LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising:
- a liquefier tube compositionally comprising a first metallic material, and having an inlet end and outlet end offset along a longitudinal axis, and a channel extending between the inlet end and the outlet end;
a nozzle secured to the outlet end of the liquefier tube;
a heating element extending at least partially around the liquefier tube, wherein the heating element is configured to generate a hot zone in the liquefier tube;
at least one hollow spacer compositionally comprising a second metallic material, the at least one hollow spacer being disposed in the channel and having a first end adjacent to the nozzle and a second end that defines a shoulder that is upstream along the longitudinal axis from the hot zone when generated by the heating element; and
a hollow liner compositionally comprising a fluoropolymer, the hollow liner being disposed in the channel and having a first end abutting against the shoulder of the at least one hollow spacer.
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Abstract
A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, where the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier tube, a nozzle secured to an outlet end of the liquefier tube, a heating element extending at least partially around the liquefier tube to generate a hot zone in the liquefier tube, a hollow spacer disposed in the channel; and a hollow liner disposed in the channel abutting against an upstream shoulder of the hollow spacer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising:
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a liquefier tube compositionally comprising a first metallic material, and having an inlet end and outlet end offset along a longitudinal axis, and a channel extending between the inlet end and the outlet end; a nozzle secured to the outlet end of the liquefier tube; a heating element extending at least partially around the liquefier tube, wherein the heating element is configured to generate a hot zone in the liquefier tube; at least one hollow spacer compositionally comprising a second metallic material, the at least one hollow spacer being disposed in the channel and having a first end adjacent to the nozzle and a second end that defines a shoulder that is upstream along the longitudinal axis from the hot zone when generated by the heating element; and a hollow liner compositionally comprising a fluoropolymer, the hollow liner being disposed in the channel and having a first end abutting against the shoulder of the at least one hollow spacer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising:
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a liquefier tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a channel extending therebetweeen; a nozzle secured to the outlet end of the liquefier tube; a heating element extending at least partially around the liquefier tube, wherein the heating element is configured to generate a hot zone in the liquefier tube; a hollow spacer disposed in the channel, the hollow spacer having a downstream end adjacent to the nozzle and an upstream end defining a shoulder; and a hollow liner disposed in the channel and having a downstream end abutting against the shoulder of the hollow spacer, wherein the shoulder of the hollow spacer is positioned along the channel such that the downstream end of the hollow liner remains at least about 35°
C. below a temperature of an upstream edge of the hot zone when generated by the thermal element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a print head having a liquefier assembly that comprises a liquefier tube, a nozzle, a hollow spacer compositionally comprising a metallic material, and a hollow liner compositionally comprising a fluoropolymer, wherein the hollow spacer is disposed in the liquefier tube between the nozzle and the hollow liner; generating a hot zone in the liquefier tube; maintaining a downstream end of the hollow liner at a temperature that is at least about 35°
C. below a temperature of an upstream edge of the generated hot zone;feeding a filament of a material through the hollow liner and into the hollow spacer; melting the material of the fed filament in the hollow spacer with the generated hot zone; and extruding the molten material from the nozzle to print the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification