Additive manufacturing system with extended printing volume, and methods of use thereof
First Claim
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1. An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising:
- a build environment having a first length;
a print head within the build environment, the print head configured to print a part material along a printing axis;
a receiving surface configured as a build plane oriented substantially normal to the printing axis, the receiving surface configured to receive the printed part material from the print head to build the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner to a selected part length where the part length is greater than the first length of the build environment; and
a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part move out of the build environment as the three-dimensional part is being built in the layer-by layer manner.
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Abstract
An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising a heatable region, a receiving surface, a print head configured to print a three-dimensional part onto the receiving surface in a layer-by-layer manner along a printing axis, and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part out of the heated region.
96 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising:
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a build environment having a first length; a print head within the build environment, the print head configured to print a part material along a printing axis; a receiving surface configured as a build plane oriented substantially normal to the printing axis, the receiving surface configured to receive the printed part material from the print head to build the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner to a selected part length where the part length is greater than the first length of the build environment; and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part move out of the build environment as the three-dimensional part is being built in the layer-by layer manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17)
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10. An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising:
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a plurality of successive chambers heatable to different temperatures to define a step-down temperature gradient; a print head disposed in a first chamber of the plurality of successive chambers, the print head being configured to print a part material along a printing axis; a receiving surface configured to receive the printed part material from the print head in the heated region to produce the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner; and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part pass through the plurality of successive chambers with the step-down temperature gradient. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19)
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16. An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising:
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a build environment having a first length; a print head within the build environment, the print head configured to print a part material along a printing axis; a receiving surface configured to receive the printed part material from the print head to build the three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer manner to a selected part length where the part length is greater than the first length of the build environment; and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part move out of the build environment as the three-dimensional part is being built in the layer-by layer manner, wherein the printing axis comprises a substantially horizontal printing axis, and wherein the receiving surface comprises a substantially vertical receiving surface.
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Specification