Thermwood Corporation

Other

Rca Inc.

Therwood Corporation

Kenneth J Susnjara

Scott G Vaal

Brian Scott Smiddy

Nicolas C Vote

John Fuquay

Michael P Hardesty

Robert Gaesser

Jonathan I Fuquay

Robert A Hardy

Edwin H Haefling

Brian S Smiddy

Lawrence S Epplin

Jonathan L Fuquay

David Hildenbrand

David A Stutsman

Philip J Poth

Kenneth L Gwin

Michael N Diamond

Mark A Fleck

Joshua A Lough

Jody W Wilmes

Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to additive manufacturing apparatus and methods. An exemplary additive manufacturing system may include an extruder, the extruder having an opening dimensioned to receive a material. The apparatus may also include an extruder output in fluid communication with the extruder, wherein the extruder output extends away from the extruder along a longitudinal axis. One or more heaters positioned along at least a portion of the extruder output may also be included, and, as the material passes through the extruder output, the one or more heaters may at least partially melt the material. The system may also include a gear pump in fluid communication with the extruder output for receiving the at least partially melted material, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump for depositing the at least partially melted material.

Apparatus and method for printing large thermoplastic parts during additive manufacturing

A part formed by additive manufacturing includes a plurality of layers including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer and the second layer being stacked along a stacking direction, and a work surface formed on an upper surface of the first layer and an upper surface of the second layer. The part also includes a first through-hole formed in the first layer, a second through-hole formed in the second layer, the second through-hole being at least partially aligned with the first through-hole, and a wall extending from the first through-hole to the work surface.

Method of constructing a metal mold

A method of manufacturing a part includes removing material with a cutting machine to form a plurality of segments, at least two of the segments including an anchoring structure, connecting two or more segments to form a first layer, and connecting two or more additional segments to form a second layer. The method also includes connecting the first layer to the second layer and connecting a support structure directly to two of the anchoring structures.

Methods and systems for support structures in cut parts

An additive manufacturing method includes removing material from a sheet to create a plurality of individual layer segments formed, placing at least two first layer segments adjacent to each other at the same height to form a first layer having a hollow interior, the at least two first layer segments defining a first portion of an exterior of a part, and placing at least one second layer segment above the at least two first layer segments to form a second layer having a hollow interior, the at least one second layer segment defining a second portion of the exterior of the part. The method includes attaching the first layer to the second layer and removing material from the first layer and from the second layer to form the part having a continuous surface that extends along the first layer and the second layer.

Method of producing patterns, molds, and related products

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.

Near net shape additive manufacturing apparatus

An additive manufacturing device and method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, and compressing the flowable material with a compression roller. In one embodiment, the device includes a nozzle configured to deposit a flowable material on a surface; and a roller configured to compress the deposited flowable material, wherein the roller comprises: a flat center portion having a constant diameter; and opposed end portions, wherein each end portion extends outwardly from the flat center portion, and wherein a radially outermost surface of each end portion is angled relative a rotational axis of the roller.

Methods and apparatus for compressing material during additive manufacturing

A method of forming a part using additive manufacturing may include receiving, at a computer numeric controlled (CNC) machine, a computer aided design (CAD) model of the part. The method may further include dividing the CAD model into plurality of sections. The method may further include slicing each of the plurality of sections into a plurality of layers. Each section may include a distinct set of print parameters. The method may further include depositing a flowable material onto a worktable according the set of print parameters for each section of the plurality of sections to manufacture the part.

Systems and methods for printing components using additive manufacturing

An additive manufacturing method for delivering a flowable material from a nozzle of a programmable computer numeric control (CNC) machine, the nozzle being configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes. In one embodiment, the method includes actuating an extruder to form a flowable material, delivering the flowable material to a pump, sensing a pressure of the flowable material, and adjusting at least one of a speed of the extruder and a speed of the pump based on at least one of the sensed pressure and a rate of translation of the nozzle along one or more of the first, second, and third axes.

Methods and apparatus for processing and dispensing material during additive manufacturing

An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.

Apparatus and methods for fabricating components

An additive manufacturing method includes receiving an electronic representation of a part with a control system, determining a plurality of layers for the electronic representation of the part, and separating one or more of the layers associated with the electronic representation of the part into a plurality of segments. The additive manufacturing method further includes adding a joint structure to two or more of the segments and generating instructions for controlling a machining apparatus based on the electronic representation of the part, the layers, the segments, and the joint structure.

Methods and systems for creating structures from cut parts

Near net shape additive manufacturing system

A method of forming a part using additive manufacturing may include receiving, at a computer numeric controlled (CNC) machine, a computer aided design (CAD) model of the part. The method may further include dividing the CAD model into plurality of sections. The method may further include slicing each of the plurality of sections into a plurality of layers. Each section may include a distinct set of print parameters. The method may further include depositing a flowable material onto a worktable according the set of print parameters for each section of the of the plurality of sections to manufacture the part.

A machine and method of forming an article generally comprising extruding a molten bead of thermoplastic material along x, y and z axes in forming an article consisting of a strata of such material, and passing a roller over each applied portion of such molten bead to compress such bead portion, enhancing the fusion of engaging plies of such extruded material.

Growing community of inventors

Birdseye, IN, United States of America

Kenneth J Susnjara