The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 13, 2001
William J. Swanson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Patrick W. Turley, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Paul J. Leavitt, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Peter J. Karwoski, Circle Pines, MN (US);
Joseph E. LaBossiere, Lino Lakes, MN (US);
Robert L. Skubic, Chanhassen, MN (US);
Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Abstract
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.