Stratasys, Inc.

Cody Smith

Shawn Michael Koop

Christopher Herbst

Ross Michalkiewicz

Jordan Paul Nadeau

A low pull force system for feeding a filament along a feed path from a source to a liquefier in a 3D printer includes a low compressive force loading drive for advancing filament from the source, a feed drive for advancing filament into the liquefier, and an in-line accumulator comprising a telescoping joint positioned in the feed path between the loading drive and the feed drive. When the telescoping joint is in a contracted position, the loading drive activates to feed filament into the feed path at a rate faster than a rate at which the feed drive advances filament into the liquefier, causing the telescoping joint to expand and accrue a slack of filament in the feed path. When the telescoping joint reaches an extended position, the loading drive deactivates while the feed drive continues to advance filament into the liquefier, and the slack of filament is consumed.

Low pull force filament delivery system

A low compressive force filament drive system for use with an additive manufacturing system includes a plurality of drives spaced from each other. Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft engaged with the first rotatable shaft in a counter rotational configuration. The filament drive system includes a pair of drive wheel, each fixedly attached to a shaft and comprising a groove about a circumference having a substantially smooth surface and positioned on opposing sides of a filament path with a gap therebetween so as to frictionally engage a filament provided in the filament path. The drive includes one or more bridge shafts, wherein each bridge shaft is configured to rotatably couple the adjacent drives of the plurality of drives, wherein the shafts are configured to be directly or indirectly driven by a motor. The counter rotating drive wheels pull the filament from a source and push the filament through a filament feed path to a feed drive in a print head without breaking or indenting a surface of the filament.

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Wayzata, MN, United States of America

Cody Smith