Multiple-zone liquefier assembly for extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems
First Claim
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1. An extrusion-based additive manufacturing system comprising:
- a filament drive mechanism configured to feed a filament of a consumable material;
a liquefier having an inlet end and an outlet end offset along a longitudinal length;
an extrusion tip secured to the outlet end of the liquefier;
a first thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier;
a second thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier;
a third thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier such that the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit are positioned along the longitudinal length of the liquefier between the inlet end and the outlet end of the liquefier;
at least one electrically-insulative sleeve extending at least partially around all of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit; and
a controller configured to operate the filament drive mechanism to feed the filament to the inlet end of the liquefier, and to independently operate each of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit to produce independently heatable zones along the longitudinal length of the liquefier for melting the consumable material of the fed filament in the liquefier.
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Abstract
A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, and a method for building a three-dimensional model with the extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier tube having multiple, independently heatable zones along a longitudinal length of the liquefier tube.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An extrusion-based additive manufacturing system comprising:
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a filament drive mechanism configured to feed a filament of a consumable material; a liquefier having an inlet end and an outlet end offset along a longitudinal length; an extrusion tip secured to the outlet end of the liquefier; a first thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier; a second thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier; a third thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier such that the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit are positioned along the longitudinal length of the liquefier between the inlet end and the outlet end of the liquefier; at least one electrically-insulative sleeve extending at least partially around all of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit; and a controller configured to operate the filament drive mechanism to feed the filament to the inlet end of the liquefier, and to independently operate each of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit to produce independently heatable zones along the longitudinal length of the liquefier for melting the consumable material of the fed filament in the liquefier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An extrusion-based additive manufacturing system comprising:
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a filament drive mechanism configured to feed a filament of a consumable material; a liquefier having an inlet end and an outlet end offset along a longitudinal length; an extrusion tip secured to the outlet end of the liquefier; three or more thermal units operably secured to the liquefier at different locations along the longitudinal length of the liquefier between the inlet end and the outlet end of the liquefier; and
a controller configured to operate the filament drive mechanism to feed the filament to the inlet end of the liquefier, and to independently operate each of the three or more thermal units to produce independently heatable zones along the longitudinal length of the liquefier for melting the consumable material of the fed filament in the liquefier; andat least one electrically-insulative sleeve extending at least partially around all of the three or more thermal units. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An extrusion-based additive manufacturing system comprising:
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a filament drive mechanism configured to feed a filament of a consumable material; a liquefier having an outer surface, an inlet end, and an outlet end offset along a longitudinal length from the inlet end; an extrusion tip secured to the outlet end of the liquefier; three or more thermal units positioned along the longitudinal length of the liquefier between the inlet end and the outlet end of the liquefier, wherein each of the three or more thermal units comprises; a thermally-conductive component in thermal contact with an outer surface of the liquefier; an electrically-conductive component configured to electrically heat the thermally-conductive component; and an electrical connection configured to relay electrical power to the electrically-conductive component; and at least one electrically-insulative sleeve extending at least partially around all of the three or more thermal units; a controller configured to operate the filament drive mechanism to feed the filament to the inlet end of the liquefier, and to independently operate each of the three or more thermal units to produce independently heatable zones along the longitudinal length of the liquefier for melting the consumable material of the fed filament in the liquefier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification