Additive manufacturing method for printing three-dimensional parts with purge towers
First Claim
1. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- printing layers of the three-dimensional part and of a support structure for the three-dimensional part from multiple print heads or deposition lines using a layer-based, additive manufacturing technique;
switching the print heads or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part and the support structure;
performing a purge operation for each print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode, the purge operation comprising printing at least one purge tower in a layer-by-layer manner, wherein the layers of the at least one purge tower are printed from the print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode.
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Abstract
A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method including printing layers of the three-dimensional part and of a support structure for the three-dimensional part from multiple print heads or deposition lines, and switching the print heads or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part and the support structure. The method also includes performing a purge operation for each print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode, where the purge operation includes printing a layer of at least one purge tower from the print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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printing layers of the three-dimensional part and of a support structure for the three-dimensional part from multiple print heads or deposition lines using a layer-based, additive manufacturing technique; switching the print heads or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part and the support structure; performing a purge operation for each print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode, the purge operation comprising printing at least one purge tower in a layer-by-layer manner, wherein the layers of the at least one purge tower are printed from the print head or deposition line switched to the operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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bringing a first print head or deposition line from a stand-by mode to an operating mode; printing a first layer of a purge tower printed in a layer-by-layer manner from a support material using the first print head or deposition line in the operating mode; printing a layer of a support structure from the support material using the first print head in the operating mode after printing the first layer of the purge tower; bringing a second print head or deposition line from a stand-by mode to an operating mode; printing a second layer of the purge tower from a part material using the second print head or deposition line in the operating mode; and printing a layer of the three-dimensional part from the part material using the second print head in the operating mode after printing the second layer of the purge tower. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- (a) printing a first layer of a support structure from a support material for the three-dimensional part;
(b) printing a first layer of a purge tower from a part material;
(c) printing a first layer of the three-dimensional part on at least a portion of the first layer of the support structure from the part material after printing the first layer of the purge tower;
(d) printing a second layer of the purge tower from the support material; and
(e) printing a second layer of the support structure on at least a portion of the first layer of the three-dimensional part from the support material after printing the second layer of the purge tower. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- (a) printing a first layer of a support structure from a support material for the three-dimensional part;
Specification