Topology fabrication apparatus

• US 4,749,347 A
• Filed: 10/21/1986
• Issued: 06/07/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stratasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: George A. Rolston
• Inventors: Valavaara, Viljo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US06/921,124
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 425/87, 425/131.1, 425/135, 425/140, 425/150, 425/162, 425/375, 425/381, 425/458, 425/465, 425/466, 425/141, 264/40.1, 264/40.7, 264/167, 264/176.1, 264/219, 264/220, 264/225, 264/319, 264/544, 264/547, 364/167, 364/168, 364/468, 364/469, 364/473, 364/562, 156/350, 156/357, 156/358, 156/500, 156/244.11
• US Class Current: 425/135
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92076 Position, e.g. linear or angular
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92466 Auxiliary unit, e.g. for external melt filtering, re-combining or transfer between units
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92571 Position, e.g. linear or angular
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92952 Drive section, e.g. gearbox, motor or drive fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92961 Auxiliary unit, e.g. for external melt filtering, re-combining or transfer between units
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/50 Details of extruders
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/124 using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41 characterised by interpolation, e.g. the computation of intermediate points between programmed end points to define the path to be followed and the rate of travel along that path G05B19/25, G05B19/31, G05B19/37, G05B19/39, G05B19/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49015 Wire, strang laying, deposit fluid, welding, adhesive, hardening, solidification, fuse
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/00 Models for scientific, medical, or mathematical purposes, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes in the nature of toys A63H
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/06 for surveying; for geography, e.g. relief models globes G09B27/00; maps G09B29/00

Abstract

Topology body apparatus having an extrusion head for extruding a settable plastic material, a mounting arm on which the extrusion head is mounted, a carriage bar on which the mounting arm is mounted, a base, extrusion head drive means for driving the extrusion head relative to the carriage bar, carriage drive means for driving the carriage bar relative to the base, and control means for controlling the extrusion head, the extrusion head drive means and the carriage drive means, separately and independently from one another, to procure three axes of movement of the extrusion head to progressively extrude and deposit portions of a three-dimensional solid body having a predetermined topography.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a body having a predetermined upper surface topology, and comprising:

an extruder and extrusion head operable intermittently to extrude predetermined quantities of a settable plastic material;

gate means in said extrusion head and controllable gate movement means, whereby the profile of said settable material can be varied during extrusion;

mounting arm means on which said extrusion head is movably mounted;

carriage means on which said mounting arm means is mounted for movement;

a base defining a surface;

extrusion head drive means for moving said extrusion head relative to said carriage means;

carriage drive means for driving said carriage means and mounting arm means relative to said base;

positional detector means for detecting the position of said extrusion head, said gate means, and, said carriage means; and

,

control means for controlling said extrusion head, said extruder, said extrusion head drive means, said gate means, and said carriage drive means, separately and independently from one another, whereby to procure two axes of movement of said extrusion head, and one axis of movement of said gate means whereby to progressively extrude and deposit portions of a three-dimensional solid body having a predetermined topology, on said surface of said base.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including data storage means communicating with said control means, whereby data relating to the topology of such a body may be stored and processed, and reproduced for a programmed operation of said control means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including deflector means alongside said extrusion head operable to deflect said material as it is extruded.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gate means may be tilted along its axis, and tilting means for controlling the angle of tilt of said gate means, and positional detector means for detecting the angle of tilt of said gate means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said tilt operating means, and positional detector means are connected to said gate movement means, whereby the same may move upwardly and downwardly in unison with said gate means.

6. Apparatus for forming a body having a predetermined upper surface topology and comprising:

an extruder and extrusion head operable to extrude predetermined quantities of settable plastic material;

height adjustment means on which said extrusion head is mounted, and height motor means for adjusting said height adjustment means whereby said extrusion head may be raised and lowered on a vertical axis;

mounting arm means on which said height adjustment means is mounted for movement along a first axis;

carriage means on which said mounting arm means is mounted for movement along a second axis;

a base defining a surface on which said body is formed;

extrusion head drive means for driving said height adjustment means and said extrusion head along said first axis relative to said carriage means;

carriage drive means for driving said carriage means and mounting arm means relative to said base along said second axis;

positional detector means for detecting the position of said extrusion head, relative to said base, and control means for controlling said height motor means, said extrusion head drive means and said carriage drive means, separately and independently from one another whereby to procure movement of said extrusion head along said first and second axes independently from one another, and whereby also to procure movement of said extrusion head on said vertical axis.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including data storage means communicating with said control means, whereby data relating to the topology of such a body may be stored and processed, and reproduced for a programmed operation of said control means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said extrusion head is rotatably mounted, and including rotation motor means, and feedback means for rotating same.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said extrusion head includes extrusion duct means having opposite side walls, and a top wall, and one of said side walls being swingably mounted, and tilt motor means, and feedback means, for operating said swingable side.