Methods and Apparatus for Variable Property Rapid Prototyping
First Claim
1. Apparatus for fused deposition, comprising at least one nozzle for extruding material and at least one actuator for moving said nozzle,The Improvement Comprising at least one chamber adapted for mixing a plurality of materials for extrusion though said nozzle, in such a manner that the ratio of said materials in said extruded mixture varies in a substantially continuous gradient.
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Abstract
In an exemplary implementation of this invention, a plurality of materials are heated, mixed and extruded from a nozzle. The ratio of materials in the extruded mixture may be dynamically varied in such a way that the composition of the extruded material varies in a substantially continuous gradient. The deposited material is selectively deposited layer by layer. The composition of the resulting 3D object may vary, over at least part of its volume, in a substantially continuous gradient. Furthermore, a plurality of such nozzles may be employed, at least one of which extrudes support material and at least one of which extrudes parts material, in each case in such a way that the composition of the extruded material varies in a substantially continuous gradient.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for fused deposition, comprising at least one nozzle for extruding material and at least one actuator for moving said nozzle,
The Improvement Comprising at least one chamber adapted for mixing a plurality of materials for extrusion though said nozzle, in such a manner that the ratio of said materials in said extruded mixture varies in a substantially continuous gradient.
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12. A method of layer manufacturing, comprising extruding material through at least one nozzle, and moving said nozzle in a such a manner as to selectively deposit said extruded material layer by layer,
The Improvement Comprising mixing a plurality of materials and extruding said mixture through said nozzle in such a manner that the ratio of these materials in the extruded mixture varies in a substantially continuous gradient.
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18. Apparatus for layer manufacturing, comprising at least one nozzle for extruding material and at least one actuator for moving said nozzle in such a way as to selectively deposit said extruded material layer by layer,
The Improvement Comprising at least one chamber adapted for mixing a plurality of materials for extrusion though said nozzle, in such a manner that the ratio of said materials in said extruded mixture varies gradually.
Specification