METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 3D FABRICATION
First Claim
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6. The apparatus of claim wherein the melt tube comprises a stainless steel tube.
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in 3D fabrication includes a heat sink, a melt tube extending through the heat sink, the melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for melting filament or other material as the material is conveyed from the first end to the second end, a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material, the pen tip at the second end of the melt tube, and a pen tip holder for securely holding the pen tip during printing, the pen tip holder having a heater element associated therewith.
51 Citations
27 Claims
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6. The apparatus of claim wherein the melt tube comprises a stainless steel tube.
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20. A method for fabricating an object, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus for use in fused filament fabrication, the apparatus comprising (a) a heat sink, (b) a melt tube extending through the heat sink, the melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for melting material as the material is conveyed from the first end to the second end, (c) a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material, the pen tip at the second end of the melt tube, and (d) a pen tip holder for securely holding the pen tip, the pen tip holder having a heater element associated therewith; receiving the material into the melt tube; melting the material while in the melt tube to provide melted material; dissipating heat from the melt tube through the heat sink; conveying the melted material from the pen tip to form a portion of the object. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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26-1. The method of claim 20 wherein the material comprises a powder.
Specification