Liquefier assemblies for additive manufacturing systems, and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213998-B2
Application number	US-201515514742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system to print three-dimensional parts. In one aspect, the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier that is transversely compressible, and having an inlet end configured to receive a consumable material in a solid or molten state and an outlet end, a nozzle at the outlet end, and an actuator mechanism configured to transversely compress and expand the liquefier in a controlled manner In another aspect, the liquefier assembly is self heating.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquefier assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system to print three-dimensional parts by material extrusion, the liquefier assembly comprising:
a ribbon liquefier having opposing faces corresponding to a width of the ribbon liquefier and opposing lateral ends corresponding to a thickness of the ribbon liquefier, and having an inlet end configured to receive a ribbon filament, an outlet end offset along the longitudinal axis thereof, and a heating zone therebetween, wherein the width is at least about 2.5 times greater than the thickness, and wherein the ribbon liquefier is transversely compressible;
a heater positioned about the ribbon liquefier along the heating zone, wherein the heater is configured to impart thermal energy into the ribbon filament to create a molten pool within the heating zone of the ribbon liquefier;
a nozzle at the outlet end of the ribbon liquefier configured for extruding the ribbon filament in a continuous flow caused by forcing the ribbon filament into the molten pool;
spaced apart flanges positioned along opposing faces of the ribbon liquefier and extended along the longitudinal axis thereof; and
an actuator mechanism operably positioned proximate the ribbon liquefier and configured to controllably apply pressure by moving at least one of the spaced apart flanges such that the spaced apart flanges move relative to each other act on the opposing faces to transversely compress and release the ribbon liquefier, wherein the compression of the ribbon liquefier decreases a volume within the ribbon liquefier which increases volumetric flow rate of an extrudate and the release of pressure on the ribbon liquefier tube causes expansion of the volume the ribbon liquefier and a decrease in volumetric flow rate of the extrudate.

2. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lateral ends are rounded.

3. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 , and further comprising one or more electrical lines configured to operably connect the actuator mechanism to a controller assembly of the additive manufacturing system.

4. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator mechanism comprises one or more piezoelectric actuators.

5. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises one or more heater assemblies sandwiched between the flanges and the ribbon liquefier.

6. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 , and further comprising one or more sensors configured to measure compressions and expansions of the ribbon liquefier.

7. The liquefier assembly of claim 1 and further comprising at least one electrode attached to the ribbon liquefier wherein the at least one electrode is configured to connect to an electric source such that current heats the ribbon liquefier.

Assignees

• Stratasys Inc

Inventors

• Batchelder J Samuel
• Swanson William J

Classifications

• B33Y40/00

  Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling · CPC title

• B29C64/321

  Feeding · CPC title

• B29K2105/0067

  Melt · CPC title

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title