Stratasys, Inc.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Stratsys, Inc.

Joseph Edward LaBossiere

William J Swanson

Dominic F Mannella

Kevin C Johnson

Michael D Bosveld

Paul J Leavitt

Ronald G Schloesser

S Scott Crump

Patrick W Turley

Robert L Skubic

Richard Thomas Anderson

Alfredo Santiago, Jr

Saurav Upadhyaya

Marvin E Eshelman

Peter J Karwoski

Michael W Hansen

Lars Ivan Sjoholm

Peter W Freund

Nathan Knutson

Thomas J McDonough

Benjamin N Dunn

An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts includes a print foundation, a print head, a drive mechanism, and a supporting surface that creates an air bearing for parts under construction as they move through the system. The print head is configured to print a 3D part onto the print foundation in a layer-by-layer manner in a vertical print plane. The drive mechanism is configured to index the print foundation substantially along a horizontal print axis during printing of the 3D part. The support surface is provided by a table extending along the horizontal axis. The table has a plurality of air jets forming an air platen, which generates the air bearing for supporting the 3D part as it is incremented along the print axis.

Additive manufacturing system with extended printing volume, and methods of use thereof

A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising generating and printing a planarizing part having a substantially-planar top surface relative to a build plane, and a bottom surface that substantially mirrors a topography of a platen surface, and printing the three-dimensional part over the substantially-planar top surface of the printed planarizing part.

Platen planarizing process for additive manufacturing system

An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system comprising a heatable region, a receiving surface, a print head configured to print a three-dimensional part onto the receiving surface in a layer-by-layer manner along a printing axis, and a drive mechanism configured to index the receiving surface along the printing axis such that the receiving surface and at least a portion of the three-dimensional part out of the heated region.

An additive manufacturing system includes a gantry configured to move in a build plane. A platen is configured to support a part being built in a layer by layer process and wherein the platen is configured to move in a direction substantially normal to the build plane. A head carriage is carried by the gantry wherein the head carriage includes ferromagnetic material. The system includes at least one print head where the print head includes a housing and one or more magnets attached to the housing wherein the at least one print head is configured to be coupled to the head carriage through a magnetic coupling between the one or more magnets and the ferromagnetic material such that the print head is configured to move rotationally relative to the head carriage.

Magnetically coupled print head for additive manufacturing system

An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film or substrate, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film or substrate. The additive manufacturing system may also include a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film.

Automated additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, printing farm thereof, and method of use thereof

An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film, and a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film.

An extrusion head comprising at least one drive wheel and an assembly positionable between at least a first state and a second state. The assembly comprises a first extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the first state, and a second extrusion line configured to engage the at least one drive wheel while the assembly is positioned in the second state.

Single-motor extrusion head having multiple extrusion lines

A deposition modeling system incorporates a drive mechanism to feed a strand of filament to create a model. The drive mechanism comprises a pivot block that is rotatably connected to a fixed block and a motor that rotates a drive shaft. A drive roller is connected to the drive shaft and an idler roller is connected to an idler axle that extends from the pivot block in a substantially perpendicular direction to the direction of rotation of the pivot block with respect to the fixed block and in a substantially parallel direction to the drive shaft.

Rapid prototyping system with controlled material feedstock

A method for three-dimensional modeling builds up three-dimensional objects in a heated build chamber by dispensing modeling material from a dispensing head onto a base in a predetermined pattern. Physical and thermal separation are maintained between the heated build chamber and motion control components that control the motion of the dispensing head and the base. Thermal isolation of the motion control components from the build chamber allows the chamber to be maintained at a high temperature, and has other practical advantages as well.

High-temperature modeling method

Disclosed is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus ( ) that builds up three-dimensional objects in a heated build chamber ( ) by dispensing modeling material from a dispensing head ( ) onto a base ( ) in a pattern determined by control signals from a controller ( ). The motion control components ( ) of the apparatus ( ) are external to and thermally isolated from the build chamber ( ). A deformable thermal insulator ( ) forms a ceiling of the building chamber, allowing motion control of the dispensing head ( ) in an x, y plane by an x-y gantry ( ) located outside of and insulated from the build chamber ( ). In the preferred embodiment, a material dispensing outlet ( ) of the dispensing head is inside the chamber. Thermal isolation of the motion control components from the build chamber allows the chamber to be maintained at a high temperature.

High temperature modeling apparatus

A transport refrigeration system for heating and cooling a conditioned space is provided that includes an improved, combined heat exchanger and economizer for increasing the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. The system includes a refrigerant compressor driven by an internal combustion engine that includes suction and discharge ports, and an intermediate pressure port; a refrigeration circuit including a heating coil and evaporator assembly thermally connected to the conditioned space, and a mode valve for selectively routing the refrigerant through either the heating coil or the evaporator assembly via a condenser to heat or cool the conditioned space, respectively. The combined heat exchanger and economizer includes a tube connected to the intermediate suction port of the compressor, a shell for conducting refrigerant to the evaporator assembly depending upon the position of the mode valve, and a jacket for circulating engine coolant. During the heating mode of the system, a volume of refrigerant is maintained in the shell of the combined heat exchanger and economizer to act as a thermal buffer for heat transferred between engine coolant circulating through the jacket, and refrigerant flowing through the tube of the device.

Growing community of inventors

Roger, MN, United States of America

Joseph Edward LaBossiere