Voice coil mechanism for use in additive manufacturing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
- a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane, wherein the carriage is configured to receive and retain a plurality of print heads at the same time that are configured to be removably replaceable with manual force;
a plurality of voice coil mechanisms, each voice coil mechanisms configured to controllably move at least one of the plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, between a lowered position and a raised position;
at least one suspension mechanism that is secured to the carriage, and configured to;
restrict movement of at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in directions parallel to the plane; and
permit each of the voice coil mechanisms to controllably move at least one of the received print heads relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane independent of another print head of the plurality of print heads; and
a sensor assembly configured to measure the position of the at least one print head relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane.
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Abstract
A print head assembly that includes a receptacle supported from a carriage frame and configured to receive a print head, and a toggle mechanism configured to move the receptacle relative to the carriage frame.
90 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
- a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane, wherein the carriage is configured to receive and retain a plurality of print heads at the same time that are configured to be removably replaceable with manual force;
a plurality of voice coil mechanisms, each voice coil mechanisms configured to controllably move at least one of the plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, between a lowered position and a raised position;
at least one suspension mechanism that is secured to the carriage, and configured to;
restrict movement of at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in directions parallel to the plane; and
permit each of the voice coil mechanisms to controllably move at least one of the received print heads relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane independent of another print head of the plurality of print heads; and
a sensor assembly configured to measure the position of the at least one print head relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane, wherein the carriage is configured to receive and retain a plurality of print heads at the same time that are configured to be removably replaceable with manual force;
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8. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
- a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane;
a control board retained by the carriage, wherein the carriage is configured to receive and retain a plurality of print heads at the same time that are configured to be removably replaceable with manual force;
a plurality of voice coil mechanisms each voice coil mechanisms configured to receive electrical power from the control board to controllably move at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane between a lowered position and a raised position; and
at least one suspension mechanism that is secured to the carriage, and configured to;
restrict movement of the at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in directions parallel to the plane; and
permit each of the voice coil mechanisms to controllably move at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane independent of another print head of the plurality of print heads; and
a sensor assembly configured to operably measure the position of the at least one of the received plurality of print heads relative to the carriage in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane, and to send information of the measured position to the control board. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane;
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14. A print head assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the print head assembly comprising:
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a carriage configured to be retained by a gantry mechanism of the additive manufacturing system to move the carriage substantially in a plane, wherein the carriage is configured to receive and retain a first and second print head at the same time that are configured to be removably replaceable with manual force; a first voice coil mechanism configured to controllably move the first print head relative to the carriage in a directions substantially perpendicular to the plane; a first suspension mechanism that is secured to the carriage, and configured to; restrict movement of the first print head relative to the carriage in directions parallel to the plane; and permit the voice coil mechanism to controllably move the first print head relative to the carriage in the directions outside of the plane; a second voice coil mechanism configured controllably move the second print head relative to the carriage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane; a second suspension mechanism that is secured to the carriage, and configured to; restrict movement of the second print head relative to the carriage in directions parallel to the plane; and permit the second voice coil mechanism to controllably move the second print head relative to the carriage in the directions substantially perpendicular to the plane wherein the movement of the second print head is independent of the first print head; and a sensor assembly configured to measure the position of at least one of the first and second print heads relative to the carriage in the substantially perpendicular to the plane. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification