Capacitive detector for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems
First Claim
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1. A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising:
- a control board configured to be retained in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system;
a sense conductive component operably secured to the control board;
an excitation conductive component operably secured to the control board to define a first gap between the sense conductive component and the excitation conductive component, the first gap being configured to receive a consumable material used in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, wherein the excitation conductive component is configured to generate a first electrical field across the first gap; and
a reference conductive component operably secured to the control board on an opposing side of the excitation conductive component from the sense conductive component to define a second gap between the excitation conductive component and the reference component, wherein the excitation conductive component is further configured to generate a second electrical field across the second gap.
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Abstract
A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising a sense conductive component and an excitation conductive component to define a first gap that is configured to receive a consumable material used in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, where the excitation conductive component is configured to generate a first electrical field across the first gap.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising:
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a control board configured to be retained in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; a sense conductive component operably secured to the control board; an excitation conductive component operably secured to the control board to define a first gap between the sense conductive component and the excitation conductive component, the first gap being configured to receive a consumable material used in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, wherein the excitation conductive component is configured to generate a first electrical field across the first gap; and a reference conductive component operably secured to the control board on an opposing side of the excitation conductive component from the sense conductive component to define a second gap between the excitation conductive component and the reference component, wherein the excitation conductive component is further configured to generate a second electrical field across the second gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising:
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a control board configured to be retained in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; an excitation conductive component operably secured to the control board; a sense conductive component operably secured to the control board; a reference conductive component operably secured to the control board on an opposing side of the excitation conductive component from the sense conductive component to define a gap between the excitation conductive component and the reference component; a biasing component configured to engage a consumable material with the excitation conductive component and the reference conductive component, wherein the excitation conductive component is configured to generate an electrical field with the sense conductive component; and a processor operably secured to the control board and configured to compare capacitive values of sampled signals operably received from the sense conductive component to predetermined capacitive values to identify at least one compositional property of the consumable material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting a consumable material in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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generating a first electrical field between an excitation conductive component and a sense conductive component; generating a second electrical field between the excitation conductive component and a reference conductive component; introducing the consumable material between the excitation conductive component and the sense conductive component of the extrusion based digital manufacturing system while the first and second electrical fields are generated; sampling capacitive values of the first and second electrical fields while the consumable material is introduced between the excitation conductive component and the sense conductive component; and performing at least one computational analysis on the sampled capacitive values to identify the presence of the consumable material between the excitation conductive component and the sense conductive component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification