Multiple color extrusion type three dimensional printer

• US 20140363532A1
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kirk W. Wolfgram
• Original Assignee: Kirk W. Wolfgram
• Inventors: Wolfgram, Kirk W.
• Application Number:
  US13/986,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363532A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/113
• 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 64/232 for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/236 for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/336 of two or more materials
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing multiple color three-dimensional (3D) objects using an additive extrusion type manufacturing build process where the multiple color three-dimensional (3D) object is built layer by layer using a single extrusion nozzle in contact or close proximity to each build layer of the 3D object being manufactured.

Claims

1. An apparatus for building multiple colored 3D objects by means of an additive build process comprising:

a support structure;

a build plate providing a build surface for support of a 3D object(s) during said build process;

a material extruder capable of receiving a build material of a given color and capable of extruding said build material through an extrusion nozzle;

a build material feeder assembly capable of varying the rate said build material is feed into said material extruder;

a second material extruder capable of receiving a second build material of a different color than said first material extruder and capable of extruding said second build material through a second extrusion nozzle;

a second build material feeder assembly capable of varying the rate said second build material is feed into said second material extruder;

a x-y-z positioning assembly capable of moving said extrusion nozzles of said material extruders relative to said build plate;

a extrusion nozzle positioning assembly capable of moving said first extrusion nozzle toward and/or away from said build plate relative to said second extrusion nozzle; and

a controller connected to said material extruders, said build material feeder assemblies, said x-y-z positioning assembly, and connected to said material extrusion nozzle positioning assembly.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 where the material extrusion nozzle positioning assembly is capable of moving one extrusion nozzle relative to the x-y-z positioning assembly;

and

where said second extrusion nozzle is fixed relative to one axis of said x-y-z positioning assembly.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 where the material extrusion nozzle positioning assembly is capable of moving a first and second extrusion nozzle relative to the x-y-z positioning assembly.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 where the material extrusion nozzle positioning assembly is provided by at least one axis of the x-y-z positioning assembly.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 where the x-y-z positioning assembly is a robotic arm.

6. An apparatus for building multiple colored 3D objects by means of an additive build process comprising:

a support structure;

a build plate providing a build surface for support of a 3D object(s) during said build process;

a material extruder capable of receiving a first build material and capable of receiving a second build material of a different color than said first build material and capable of extruding said build materials through an extrusion nozzle;

a build material feeder assembly capable of varying the rate said first build material is feed into said material extruder;

a second build material feeder assembly capable of varying the rate said second build material is feed into said material extruder;

a x-y-z positioning assembly capable of moving said extrusion nozzle of said material extruder relative to said build plate; and

a controller connected to said material extruders, said build material feeder assemblies, and connected to said x-y-z positioning assembly.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 where said first build material feeder assembly and said second build material feeder assembly feed build materials into said material extruder simultaneously.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 where said first build material feeder assembly and said second build material feeder assembly feed build materials at different feed rates.

9. An apparatus of claim 8 where one build material is a colorant.

10. An apparatus of claim 9 where said build material is a primary color.

11. An apparatus of claim 6 where said material extruder is capable of receiving more than two building materials;

and

where a build material feeder assembly is provided to control the rate of each build material independently.

12. An apparatus of claim 11 where at least one build material is a colorant.

13. An apparatus of claim 6 where the x-y-z positioning assembly is a robotic arm.

14. An apparatus for building multiple colored 3D objects by means of an additive build process comprising:

a support structure;

a build plate providing a build surface for support of a 3D object(s) during said build process;

a material extruder capable of receiving a building material of a given color and capable of extruding said build material through an extrusion nozzle;

a building material feeder assembly capable of varying the rate said build material is feed into said material extruder;

a docking station;

a x-y-z positioning assembly capable of moving said extrusion nozzle of said material extruder relative to said build plate; and

a controller connected to said material extruder, said build material feeder assembly, and connected to said x-y-z positioning assembly.

15. An apparatus of claim 14 where said docking station is capable of receiving a plurality of material extruders each material extruder provided with an extruder nozzle and each material extruder capable of receiving a build material.

16. An apparatus of claim 15 where each material extruder is provided with a build material feeder assembly.

17. An apparatus of claim 15 where said x-y-z positioning assembly is provided with a material extruder clamp capable of receiving a material extruder provided with extruder nozzle from said docking station.

18. An apparatus of claim 14 where said docking station is capable of receiving a plurality of build materials.

19. An apparatus of claim 18 where said x-y-z positioning assembly is capable of moving said material extruder to park and to receive build materials from said docking station.

20. An apparatus of claim 14 where the x-y-z positioning assembly is a robotic arm.