Consumable assembly with payout tube for additive manufacturing system
First Claim
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1. A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising:
- a base end having an outlet opening;
a tip end having a substantially hemispherical surface having an apex wherein, the tip end includes an inlet opening proximate the apex;
a tubular main body extending along a longitudinal length and connecting the tip end and the base end and the tubular main body having a substantially smooth inner geometry;
wherein the base end, the tip end, and the tubular main body are a monolithic construction configured for use with a coil of the consumable filament, the monolithic construction allowing the consumable filament to unwind from the coil without becoming entangled; and
wherein the inlet opening has an effective inner diameter, wherein the inlet opening is smaller than the outlet opening of the base end, and wherein the tubular main body has an average effective outer diameter along the longitudinal length that is at least about three times greater than the effective inner diameter of the inlet opening.
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Abstract
A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising a tip end having an inlet opening, a base end having an outlet opening, and a tube body having an average effective outer diameter that is substantially greater than an effective inner diameter of the inlet opening.
108 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising:
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a base end having an outlet opening; a tip end having a substantially hemispherical surface having an apex wherein, the tip end includes an inlet opening proximate the apex; a tubular main body extending along a longitudinal length and connecting the tip end and the base end and the tubular main body having a substantially smooth inner geometry; wherein the base end, the tip end, and the tubular main body are a monolithic construction configured for use with a coil of the consumable filament, the monolithic construction allowing the consumable filament to unwind from the coil without becoming entangled; and wherein the inlet opening has an effective inner diameter, wherein the inlet opening is smaller than the outlet opening of the base end, and wherein the tubular main body has an average effective outer diameter along the longitudinal length that is at least about three times greater than the effective inner diameter of the inlet opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament through a guide tube from a consumable assembly to an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising:
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an end plate having a first aperture centered therein; a main body extending from the end plate and along a longitudinal length, the main body terminating in a tip end having a second aperture centered therein, wherein the main body is substantially tubular and comprises a substantially smooth inner geometry and an average effective outer diameter along the longitudinal length; wherein the end plate, the main body, and tip end are a monolithic construction; and wherein the second aperture has an effective inner diameter that is smaller in diameter than the first aperture and the second aperture is configured to retain an end of the guide tube therein for feeding the consumable filament from the consumable assembly to the additive manufacturing system, and wherein the average effective outer diameter along the longitudinal length of the main body is at least about three times greater than the effective inner diameter of the second aperture. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A consumable assembly for use with an additive manufacturing system, the consumable assembly comprising:
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a container having an interior volume and a through bore therein; a coil of consumable filament positioned within the interior volume of the container; and a payout tube comprising; a base end having an outlet opening; a tip end comprising a substantially hemispherical outer surface with an apex, wherein the tip end has an inlet opening proximate the apex; a tubular main body extending along a longitudinal length and connecting the tip end and the base end and the tubular main body having a substantially smooth inner geometry and wherein the base end, the tip end, and the tubular main body are a monolithic construction; wherein the inlet opening having an effective inner diameter, wherein the inlet opening is smaller than the outlet opening of the base end, and wherein the tubular main body has an average effective outer diameter along the longitudinal length that is at least about three times greater than the effective inner diameter of the inlet opening; and wherein the payout tube is positioned through the through bore such that at least a portion of the payout tube is within the interior volume of the container for allowing the consumable filament to unwind from the coil without becoming entangled. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification