Head tool changer for use with deposition-based digital manufacturing systems
First Claim
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1. A method for building a three-dimensional model with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- engaging a tooling unit with a tool rest assembly, wherein the tooling unit retains a deposition head;
relaying electrical power through the tool rest assembly and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the tool rest assembly;
disengaging the tooling unit from the tool rest assembly;
moving the tool rest assembly away from the tooling unit;
engaging the tooling unit with a master unit that is operably mounted to a gantry of the deposition-based digital manufacturing system;
relaying electrical power through the master unit and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the master unit;
moving the master unit and the retained deposition head with the gantry;
feeding a consumable material through the retained deposition head with the electrical power relayed through the master unit and the tooling unit; and
depositing the fed consumable material from the retained deposition head while moving the master unit to build at least a portion of the three-dimensional model using a layer-based additive technique.
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Abstract
A head tool changer for use with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the head tool changer comprising a tooling unit configured to retain a deposition head, a grip unit configured to engage with tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit, and a master unit operably mounted to a gantry and configured to engage with the tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for building a three-dimensional model with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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engaging a tooling unit with a tool rest assembly, wherein the tooling unit retains a deposition head; relaying electrical power through the tool rest assembly and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the tool rest assembly; disengaging the tooling unit from the tool rest assembly; moving the tool rest assembly away from the tooling unit; engaging the tooling unit with a master unit that is operably mounted to a gantry of the deposition-based digital manufacturing system; relaying electrical power through the master unit and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the master unit; moving the master unit and the retained deposition head with the gantry; feeding a consumable material through the retained deposition head with the electrical power relayed through the master unit and the tooling unit; and depositing the fed consumable material from the retained deposition head while moving the master unit to build at least a portion of the three-dimensional model using a layer-based additive technique. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for building a three-dimensional model with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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providing a tooling unit having a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism, and which retains a deposition head; engaging the first electrical contact and the first locking mechanism of the tooling unit to a tool rest assembly; relaying electrical power through the tool rest assembly, the first electrical contact and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the tool rest assembly; engaging the second electrical contact and the second locking mechanism of the tooling unit with a grip unit operably mounted to an actuator assembly; relaying electrical power through the grip unit, the second electrical contract, and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the grip unit; and loading the retained deposition head into position on a gantry of the deposition-based digital manufacturing system using the actuator assembly for building at least a portion of the three-dimensional model using a layer-based additive technique. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for building a three-dimensional model with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising:
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engaging a tooling unit with a tool rest assembly, wherein the tooling unit retains a deposition head; relaying electrical power through the tool rest assembly and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the tool rest assembly; engaging the tooling unit with a grip unit operably mounted to an actuator assembly; disengaging the tooling unit from the tool rest assembly after engaging the grip unit; moving the tool rest assembly away from the actuator assembly; engaging the tooling unit with a master unit that is operably mounted to a gantry of the deposition-based digital manufacturing system; relaying electrical power through the master unit and the tooling unit to the retained deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the master unit; disengaging the tooling unit from the grip unit after engaging the master unit; and building at least a portion of the three-dimensional model using a layer-based additive technique with the deposition head while the tooling unit is engaged with the master unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification