Stratasys, Inc.

Jordan Paul Nadeau

Peter David Schuller

Shawn Michael Koop

Joel Ordell Ostby

Aaron Gerald Barclay

James Flannigan

Ross Michalkiewicz

Logan R Kiene

Christopher Herbst

Cody Smith

Peter Schuller

Samuel Ogrodnik

Matt PeKarna

Shawn Koop

David Alvig

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

An additive manufacturing system includes a substantially moisture-impermeable barrier comprising a guide tube assembly for supplying filament from a filament supply to a print head in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the print head melts the filament and extrudes the melted filament to form a 3D part. The guide tube assembly includes an inner tube permeable to moisture and an outer tube that s substantially moisture impermeable. The inner tube has an interior passageway configured to receive the filament, and has a relatively low coefficient of friction to minimize drag force as the filament travels through it. The outer tube surrounds the inner tube and provides a substantially moisture-impermeable barrier around the inner tube.

Protective filament guide tube for additive manufacturing system

An apparatus and a method using the apparatus provides heated air in an additive manufacturing process for building a three-dimensional part. The method comprises providing a stream of flowable part material at an initial build level, the initial build level being positioned in and defining a horizontal plane wherein the stream of flowable material is being initially disposed on previously deposited part material. Heated air is provided at a selected temperature corresponding to the temperature of the stream of flowable part material such that the stream of flowable part material deposits on previously deposited part material in an adhering fashion thereby forming the three-dimensional part wherein the heated air is provided in the horizontal plane of the initial build level.

Heated air system for 3D printer

An 3D printer has a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane. The system includes a platen configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process, wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. The system includes a head carriage carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes a first support member supporting a retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism includes at least one member extending from the support member and a camming member rotatably attached to the support member and movable about an axis of rotation. The camming member has arcuate camming surface with an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation. The system includes at least one print head having a housing with a first side surface configured to engage the at least one member and a second side surface configured to engage the arcuate camming surface. The camming member is positionable between a first, non-engaging position where the at least one print head is removable from the support member and a second, engaging position wherein the camming member engages the second side of the print head and the first side of the print head engages the at least one member and causes a frictional engagement therebetween.

3D printer with coupling for attaching print head to head carriage

A platen assembly for use in a 3D printer includes a frame and a platen supported by the frame. The platen is configured to receive a removable build tray. A lever release mechanism of the platen assembly is coupled to the frame and is configured to both secure the build tray to the platen for printing of the part, and to eject the build tray from the platen after printing of the part.

Lever tray release

A 3D printer includes at least one consumable loading bay configured to supply filament from a consumable supply assembly to a print head and at least one drive assembly that is configured to advance filament to the print head from the consumable supply. Each drive assembly includes a follower wheel rotatable about a follower axis and a drive wheel spaced apart from the follower wheel. The drive wheel is rotatable about a drive axis and is located on an opposing side of a filament path from the follower wheel such that the follower axis and the drive axis are substantially parallel. The drive wheel further includes an outer surface extending between two ends and has at least one engaging portion that is configured to engage with the filament and at least one disengaging portion that is configured to disengage from the filament.

Filament loading drive in a 3D printer

A 3D printer has a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a build plane, and a platen configured to support a part being built. The platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. A head carriage is carried by the gantry, and a print head is carried by and retained in the head carriage. A material container has a material container body and a material container cover configured to allow loading of a spool containing a supply of a consumable filament for printing with the 3D printer, the spool mounted on an axle containing a spool chip and electrical contacts. The material container body includes a first and second axle channels configured to accept first and second ends of the axle. The first axle channel has a number of electrical contacts and is tapered to orient the axle to align the axle contacts with the first axle channel contacts. A material well has first and second well edge landings at a first radius from the central longitudinal axis, the well edge landings extending toward each other from inner edges of the material well inwardly toward a center of the material well. An extension well extends laterally from the first and second well edge landings to a second radius larger than the first radius.

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St. Louis Park, MN, United States of America

Jordan Paul Nadeau