Structural 3D printing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9777491-B2
Application number	US-201514805930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Jul 22, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Machines and system for 3D printing are disclosed. One machine includes a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, a material line coupled to the boom and configured to convey a material therethrough, a printhead coupled to the boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the material and to dispense the material, and a controller configured to receive 3D printing information and to convert the 3D printing information into positional coordinates of the printhead, wherein the controller is to cause movement of the boom to position the printhead based at least on the position coordinates.

First claim

We claim:

1. A machine comprising:
a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, wherein the plurality of ground engaging elements includes one or more of a wheel and/or one or more of a track;
a plurality of stabilizers coupled to the machine frame and moveable from a retracted position to an extended position to engage the ground;
a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, wherein the telescoping boom includes a plurality of boom segments, wherein in a first configuration at least one of the plurality of boom segments is slidingly received within a cavity of at least one other of the plurality of boom segments;
a material line coupled to the telescoping boom and configured to convey a material therethrough;
a printhead coupled to the telescoping boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the material and to dispense the material;
a support member coupled to the machine frame and rotatably coupled to the telescoping boom, wherein the telescoping boom is configured to be lifted away from the ground by engaging the support member to lift the telescoping boom in a vertical direction; and
a controller configured to receive 3D printing information and to convert the 3D printing information into positional coordinates of the printhead, wherein the controller is configured to cause movement of the telescoping boom to position the printhead based at least on the position coordinates.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the material is a building material.

3. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a counter weight coupled to the telescoping boom.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust a position of the counter weight based at least on an extension of the telescoping boom.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine frame is configured to be lifted away from the ground by engaging the stabilizers to lift the machine frame.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the support member is coupled to the machine frame and rotatably coupled to the telescoping boom to allow at least two degrees of movement relative to the support member.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the stabilizers is configured to extend radially outward from the machine frame while extending toward the ground.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to convert the 3D printing information into positional coordinates of the printhead based at least on the following relationships: x=r*sin(α); and y=r*cos(α), where r is an extended length of the telescoping boom and a is an angle of the telescoping boom relative to a predetermined home position.

9. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener implement coupled to the telescoping boom and configured to dispose one or more fasteners through a deposited material.

10. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the telescoping boom is configured to pivot about a pivot point that is off-center in at least one dimension of the machine frame.

11. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the telescoping boom is configured to pivot about a pivot point that is off-center in at least two dimensions of the machine frame.

12. A machine comprising:
a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, and an internal combustion engine operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging elements to drive the machine frame;
a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, wherein the telescoping boom includes a plurality of boom segments, wherein in a first configuration at least one of the plurality of boom segments is slidingly received within a cavity of at least one other of the plurality of boom segments;
a material line coupled to the telescoping boom and configured to convey a building material therethrough;
a printhead coupled to the telescoping boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the building material and to dispense the building material;
a plurality of stabilizers coupled to the machine frame and moveable from a retracted position to an extended position to engage the ground, wherein the machine frame is configured to be lifted away from the ground by engaging the stabilizers to lift the machine frame; and
a support member coupled to the machine frame and rotatably coupled to the telescoping boom, wherein the telescoping boom is configured to be lifted away from the ground by engaging the support member to lift the telescoping boom in a vertical direction.

13. The machine of claim 12 , further comprising a counter weight coupled to the telescoping boom.

14. The machine of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the stabilizers is configured to extend radially outward from the machine frame while extending toward the ground.

15. A machine comprising:
a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, and an internal combustion engine operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging elements to drive the machine frame;
a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, wherein the telescoping boom includes a plurality of boom segments, wherein in a first configuration at least one of the plurality of boom segments is slidingly received within a cavity of at least one other of the plurality of boom segments;
a material line coupled to the telescoping boom and configured to convey a building material therethrough;
a printhead coupled to the telescoping boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the building material and to dispense the building material;
a counter weight coupled to the telescoping boom, wherein the printhead is coupled to a first end of the telescoping boom and the counterweight is coupled to a second end of the telescoping boom, the second end being opposite the first end;
a plurality of stabilizers coupled to the machine frame and moveable from a retracted position to an extended position to engage the ground; and
a support member coupled to the machine frame and rotatably coupled to the telescoping boom to allow at least two degrees of movement relative to the support member, wherein the telescoping boom is configured to be lifted away from the ground from a neutral position to a lifted position by engaging the support member to lift the telescoping boom in a vertical direction, wherein the boom extends only parallel to the horizontal plane in both the neutral position and the lifted position.

16. The machine of claim 15 , wherein one or more of the stabilizers is configured to extend radially outward from the machine frame while extending toward the ground.

17. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the telescoping boom is configured to pivot about a pivot point that is off-center in at least two dimensions of the machine frame.

18. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the machine frame has a surface parallel to the horizontal plane in both the neutral position and the lifted position.

19. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine frame has a surface parallel to the horizontal plane in both the neutral position and the lifted position.

20. The machine of claim 12 , wherein the machine frame has a surface parallel to the horizontal plane in b

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Grivetti Tazio S
• Sketch Christopher M
• Lauterslager Peter
• Van Amelsfoort Edward

Classifications

• E04G21/0463

  with boom control mechanisms, e.g. to automate concrete distribution · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• E04C5/012

  Discrete reinforcing elements, e.g. fibres · CPC title

• B29C64/118

  using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] · CPC title