Adjustable platform assembly for digital manufacturing system
First Claim
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1. A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system having a deposition head that is directed to move substantially in a horizontal plane, the platform assembly comprising:
- a deformable platform having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being configured to operably receive a deposited material from the deposition head;
a base member disposed adjacent to the second surface of the deformable platform, the base member being configured to be supported by a gantry mechanism of the digital manufacturing system; and
a plurality of adjustable supports each operably secured to the second surface of the deformable platform and engaged with the base member, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable supports is configured to adjust a vertical distance between portion of the deformable platform and a portion of the base member to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from the horizontal plane in which the deposition head is directed to move.
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Abstract
A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the platform assembly comprises a deformable platform having a surface configured to operably receive a deposited material from a deposition head, and at least one mechanism configured to adjust at least a portion of the first surface to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from at least one horizontal axis that the deposition head is directed to move in.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system having a deposition head that is directed to move substantially in a horizontal plane, the platform assembly comprising:
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a deformable platform having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being configured to operably receive a deposited material from the deposition head; a base member disposed adjacent to the second surface of the deformable platform, the base member being configured to be supported by a gantry mechanism of the digital manufacturing system; and a plurality of adjustable supports each operably secured to the second surface of the deformable platform and engaged with the base member, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable supports is configured to adjust a vertical distance between portion of the deformable platform and a portion of the base member to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from the horizontal plane in which the deposition head is directed to move. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A digital manufacturing system comprising:
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a deposition head configured to deposit at least one material; a controller configured to direct motion of the deposition head substantially in a horizontal plane, wherein an actual motion profile of the deposition head comprises at least one vertical deviation from the horizontal plane; and a platform assembly configured to be moved along a vertical axis, the platform assembly comprising; a deformable platform configured to operably receive the at least one deposited material; a base member disposed below the deformable platform; and a plurality of adjustable supports each engaged with the deformable platform and the base member, and configured to adjust vertical distances between portions of the deformable platform and portions of the base member to compensate for the at least one vertical deviation of the actual motion profile from the horizontal plane. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system, wherein the platform assembly comprises a base member supported by a gantry mechanism of the digital manufacturing system, and further comprising a deformable platform supported by the base member with a plurality of adjustable supports; moving a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system to multiple locations over the deformable platform within an operational range of motion of the deposition head; at each of the multiple locations, measuring a vertical offset distance between a deposition tip of the deposition head and a surface of the platform assembly; comparing the measured vertical offset distances to a predetermined offset distance to identify vertical deviations from the predetermined offset distance at one or more of the multiple locations; and actuating at least a portion of the adjustable supports to reduce the identified vertical deviations at the one or more locations such that the deposition tip of the deposition head is maintained substantially at the predetermined offset distance above the surface of the platform assembly over the operational range of motion of the deposition head. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification