Use and production of coated filaments for extrusion-based 3D printing processes
First Claim
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1. A process for extrusion-based 3D printing, the process comprising steps of:
- applying a coating composition onto a filament, wherein the filament is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer and the coating composition is comprised of at least one material selected from the group consisting of an additive, a pigment, and an ink;
fixing the applied coating composition on the filament to obtain a coated filament, the coated filament being comprised of a filament portion and a coating portion on a surface of the filament portion;
conveying the coated filament to a printing head;
melting the filament portion of the coated filament in the printing head to obtain a coated melted filament, the coated melted filament being comprised of a melted filament and a coating layer on a surface of the melted filament; and
extruding a plurality of strands of the coated melted filament onto a substrate to form a three dimensional object, whereinthe melted filament and the coating layer do not substantially mix during the extrusion of the coated melted filament; and
the coating layer remains on the surface of the melted filament during the extrusion of the plurality of strands of the coated melted filament.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel process for the production of coated filaments for subsequent application as print in extrusion-based 3D printers, e.g. FDM printers (fused deposition modelling printers). The filaments are coated in a separate process outside of the printer, and can also be used in a conventional extrusion printer. The present invention further relates to the coating device for application of the coating to the filament and to a roll containing the coated filaments.
47 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for extrusion-based 3D printing, the process comprising steps of:
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applying a coating composition onto a filament, wherein the filament is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer and the coating composition is comprised of at least one material selected from the group consisting of an additive, a pigment, and an ink; fixing the applied coating composition on the filament to obtain a coated filament, the coated filament being comprised of a filament portion and a coating portion on a surface of the filament portion; conveying the coated filament to a printing head; melting the filament portion of the coated filament in the printing head to obtain a coated melted filament, the coated melted filament being comprised of a melted filament and a coating layer on a surface of the melted filament; and extruding a plurality of strands of the coated melted filament onto a substrate to form a three dimensional object, wherein the melted filament and the coating layer do not substantially mix during the extrusion of the coated melted filament; and the coating layer remains on the surface of the melted filament during the extrusion of the plurality of strands of the coated melted filament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification