Ribbon filament and assembly for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems
First Claim
1. A non-cylindrical ribbon filament for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the ribbon filament comprising:
- a composition comprising at least one extrudable material;
a length that is continuous for at least a distance such that the ribbon filament is feedable from a supply source to the ribbon liquefier configured to melt and extrude the filament, the ribbon liquefier retained by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; and
a cross-sectional profile of the length that is axially asymmetric and having a width and a thickness, wherein the width ranges from about 1.0 millimeter to about 10.2 millimeters, wherein the thickness ranges from about 0.51 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeter, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the ribbon filament has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5;
1 to about 20;
1;
wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source or when fed from the supply source to the ribbon liquefier; and
wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young'"'"'s Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-cylindrical ribbon filament for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the ribbon filament comprising:
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a composition comprising at least one extrudable material; a length that is continuous for at least a distance such that the ribbon filament is feedable from a supply source to the ribbon liquefier configured to melt and extrude the filament, the ribbon liquefier retained by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; and a cross-sectional profile of the length that is axially asymmetric and having a width and a thickness, wherein the width ranges from about 1.0 millimeter to about 10.2 millimeters, wherein the thickness ranges from about 0.51 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeter, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the ribbon filament has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5;
1 to about 20;
1;wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source or when fed from the supply source to the ribbon liquefier; and wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young'"'"'s Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An assembly for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the assembly comprising:
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a supply source configured to engage the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; and a ribbon filament retained by the supply source, the ribbon filament comprising; a composition comprising at least one extrudable material; a length that is continuous for at least a distance such that the ribbon filament is feedable from the supply source to the ribbon liquefier retained by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; and a rectangular cross-sectional profile of the length, which is configured to mate with the ribbon liquefier having an entrance cross-sectional area Ae and a hydraulic diameter Dh with the ribbon filament, wherein Dh<
0.95√
{square root over (Ae)}, and wherein the rectangular cross-sectional profile has a width and a thickness with a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5;
1 to about 20;
1;wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source; and wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young'"'"'s Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An assembly for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system with a ribbon liquefier to build a three-dimensional model in a layer-by-layer manner, the assembly comprising:
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a container configured to engage the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; a pathway from the container and configured to extend to a ribbon liquefier retainable by a moveable head of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system; and a ribbon filament at least partially retained within the container and feedable through the pathway from the container to the ribbon liquefier, the ribbon filament comprising; a composition comprising at least one extrudable material; a length; a rectangular cross-sectional profile of the length, which is configured to mate with the ribbon liquefier having an entrance cross-sectional area Ae and a hydraulic diameter Dh with the ribbon filament, wherein Dh<
0.95√
{square root over (Ae)}, and wherein the rectangular cross-sectional profile has a width and a thickness with a cross-sectional aspect ratio of the width to the thickness ranging from about 2.5;
1 to about 20;
1;wherein the ribbon filament exhibits a flexibility such that the ribbon filament does not plastically deform or fracture while retained by the supply source; and wherein the ribbon filament further exhibits a Young'"'"'s Modulus value ranging from about 1.0 gigapascal to about 5.0 gigapascals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification