Stratasys, Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Timothy A Hjelsand

William J Swanson

Kevin C Johnson

J Samuel Batchelder

James W Comb

David M Kozlak

Chad E Beery

Dwight B Stephenson

Dominic F Mannella

Paul J Leavitt

Russell P Schuchmann

Donald M Haarstad

Kenneth G Rasmussen

Andrew Rice

Keith R Carlson

Bernard J Larson

Jerry F Carlin

Jonathan B Hedlund

David E Ewel

J Samuel Batchedler

David W Thomas

Caroline Jo Markman

Samuel J Batchelder

Dana R Hansen

A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer includes a spool-less filament coil, a payout tube, and a compressive band. The coil of filament is wound in a configuration having a generally cylindrical outer perimeter and an open interior; the coil has a payout hole extending from an inner layer of the coil to an outer layer of the coil and includes a filament strand configured to be withdrawn through the payout hole in response to a pull force, to thereby withdraw filament from the interior of the coil. The payout tube is disposed in the payout hole and provides a filament port. A compressive band is disposed over the outer layer and is configured to exert a compressive radial force on the coil so that the coil maintains its cylindrical shape without deformation, and the filament strand may be drawn through the filament outlet free of kinks, twists or tangles.

Consumable assembly

A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.

Print head assembly and print head for use in fused deposition modeling system

An assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system to print a three-dimensional part that includes an extruder comprising a gear and a motor that turns the gear, wherein rotation of the gear regulates a flow of material out of the extruder. A controller, provides a control signal to the motor to control the rate at which the motor turns the at least one gear and incorporates a time-varying signal into the control signal to reduce ripples in the material output by the extruder.

Ripple reduction in an additive manufacturing system

A spool assembly comprising a housing structure, a spool rotatably retained in an interior region of the housing structure, and a sealed sheath encasing the housing structure to define a barrier for the encased housing structure and the rotatably retained spool. The spool assembly further comprises a locking arm disposed outside of the sealed sheath and configured to operably engage the spool through the sealed sheath and through the housing structure in a manner that does not penetrate the sealed sheath, where the locking arm prevents the spool from rotating relative to the housing mechanism when operably engaged with the spool. The locking arm may disengage from the spool in a hands-free manner when the spool assembly is loaded into a bay of an additive manufacturing system.

Spool assembly with locking mechanism for additive manufacturing system, and methods of use thereof

A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, the liquefier assembly comprising a downstream portion having a first average inner cross-sectional area, and an upstream having a second average inner cross-sectional area that is less than the first inner cross-sectional area, the upstream portion defining a shoulder configured to restrict movement of a melt meniscus of a consumable material.

Liquefier assembly for use in extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems

A spool assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, comprising a spool rotatably retained in a sealed sheath in a hub-less manner, and a locking mechanism configured to operably engage with the spool to prevent the spool from rotating.

Spool assembly for additive manufacturing system, and methods of manufacture and use thereof

A method for building a three-dimensional model with an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system having an extrusion head, the method comprising depositing a consumable material from a liquefier assembly at an extrusion rate to substantially normalize a meniscus height within the liquefier assembly.

Method for building three-dimensional models with extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems

A print head for use in a fused deposition modeling system, the print head includes a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.

Print head for use in fused deposition modeling system

An open center fluid controller ( ) controls the flow from a pump ( ) to a steering cylinder ( ) and to a downstream auxiliary device ( ) requiring a predetermined minimum flow availability. The open center fluid controller ( ) includes controller valving ( ) having a neutral position (N) a normal operating position (R) and a maximum displacement position (R-M). The controller defines an auxiliary fluid path providing communication between an inlet port ( ) and an auxiliary or power beyond port ( ), which is in communication with the auxiliary device ( ). The auxiliary fluid path includes a neutral variable orifice (A ) having a decreasing flow area as the valving ( ) is displaced toward the maximum displacement position (R-M). The valving defines an auxiliary flow control orifice (A ) providing communication from the inlet port to the auxiliary port ( ) when the valving approaches the maximum displacement position. The auxiliary flow control orifice (A ) has a flow area operable to permit the predetermined minimum flow availability to the auxiliary device, even as a maximum steering operation (R-M) is taking place.

Power beyond steering unit with bypass

A steer-by-wire vehicle steering system and method of controlling such a steering system when steering into and away from a steering stop. In one embodiment, the system includes a steering reaction device ( ) including a fluid displacement mechanism ( ), and a valve arrangement ( ) operable to vary the steering reaction provided to the vehicle operator. In another embodiment, there is a &ldquo;friction&rdquo; reaction device ( ) including an electromagnetic coil ( ) which can have a varying signal ( ) applied to it to vary the steering reaction the coil imposes on a movable member ( ) of the device ( ). In either embodiment, the reaction device includes a spring arrangement ( ), such that rotation of the steering wheel ( ) is in opposition to a spring force. In accordance with the method of the invention, as the operator steers into a stop, the reaction torque increases enough to prevent turning the steering wheel ( ) further, but when the operator turns the wheel to steer away from the stop, the system senses the reversed direction of steering and reduces substantially the steering reaction which the operator senses.

Growing community of inventors

Waconia, MN, United States of America

Timothy A Hjelsand