Fused filament fabrication system and method
First Claim
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1. A fused filament fabrication system comprising:
- a drive gear coupling to a motor during operation, the drive gear selectively operatively engaging first or second sets of idler gears during operation of the system; and
first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament being positioned between said first idler gear shaft and idler bearings and said second filament being positioned between said second idler gear shaft and idler bearings, wherein said selectively operatively engaging said first or second idler gears is achieved by changing the rotational direction of said drive gear.
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Abstract
A fused filament fabrication system and method comprises a motor for moving the system along a linear rail during operation, a drive gear coupled to the motor. The drive gear rotates in the direction of the motor during operation and selectively operatively engages first or second idler gears during operation of the system. The system also comprises first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament is positioned between the first idler gear shaft and idler bearing and the second filament is positioned between the second idler gear shaft and idler bearing.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fused filament fabrication system comprising:
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a drive gear coupling to a motor during operation, the drive gear selectively operatively engaging first or second sets of idler gears during operation of the system; and first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament being positioned between said first idler gear shaft and idler bearings and said second filament being positioned between said second idler gear shaft and idler bearings, wherein said selectively operatively engaging said first or second idler gears is achieved by changing the rotational direction of said drive gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fused filament fabrication system comprising:
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a drive gear coupling to a motor during operation, the drive gear selectively operatively engaging first or second idler gears during operation of the system; first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament being positioned between said first idler gear shaft and a first idler bearing and said second filament being positioned between said second idler gear shaft and a second idler bearing; and said system during use dispensing material from said first filament when said first idler gear is engaged by said drive gear while said second filament remains free from dispensing, and said system during use dispensing material from said second filament when said second idler gear is engaged by said drive gear while the first filament remains free from dispensing, wherein said selectively operatively engaging one of said first or second idler gears is achieved by changing the rotational direction of said drive gear. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A fused filament fabrication system comprising:
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a drive gear coupling to a motor during operation, the drive gear selectively operatively engaging first or second sets of idler gears during operation of the system, wherein said selectively operatively engaging said first or second idler gears is achieved by changing the rotational direction of said drive gear; first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament being positioned between said first idler gear, a first idler shaft, and a first idler bearing and said second filament being positioned between said second idler gear, a second idler shaft, and a second idler bearing; a latch coupled to an actuation device for selectively controlling the selective engagement and release of said first and second idler gears during the change of directional rotation of said drive gear such that retraction of material in said first and second filaments is controlled; and said system during use dispensing material from said first filament when said first idler gear is engaged by said drive gear while the said second filament remains free from dispensing, and said system during use dispensing material from said second filament when said second idler gear is engaged by said drive gear while the first filament remains free from dispensing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A fused filament fabrication system comprising:
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a drive gear coupling to a motor during operation, the drive gear selectively operatively engaging a first set of idler gears responsive to a rotation of the drive gear in a first direction and a second set of idler gears responsive to the rotation of the drive gear in a second direction during operation of the system, wherein the first set of idler gears comprises a first idler gear and a first filament idler bearing and the second set of idler gears comprises a second idler gear and a second filament idler bearing; and first and second filaments for the selective passage of material to corresponding first and second extruders, the first filament being positioned between said first idler gear shaft and the first filament idler gear and said second filament being positioned between said second idler gear shaft and said second filament idler bearings. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification