公开(公告)号：US10061284B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-28

申请号：US15126724

申请日：2015-03-19

Applicant: The ExOne Company

Inventor： Daniel T. Brunermer ,  Patrick Stack ,  Lawrence Joseph Voss

IPC: G05B19/042 ,  G06T19/00 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/386

Abstract: Methods are provided for solid free-form fabrication of an article without using a slice stack file quickly and efficiently—in terms of computational resources—converting STL files representing an article or articles to be built by SFFF without the use of a conventional slicing program. An application program interface (“API”) is used to generate a bitmap corresponding to each particular layer of the article that is to be printed directly from the article's STL file. This conversion may done essentially in real time immediately before the particular layer is to be printed. The bitmap is used in configuring the printing instructions for the SFFF printing mechanism to print that particular layer.

公开(公告)号：US11691334B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-04

申请号：US16620696

申请日：2018-06-12

Applicant: The ExOne Company

Inventor： Lawrence Joseph Voss ,  Joseph J. Bolt ,  Anthony S. Dugan ,  Michael John McCoy ,  Daniel T. Brunermer ,  Travis Maxwell Inks ,  Paul P. Knor

IPC: B29C64/153 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B29C64/329 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/35 ,  B29C64/205 ,  B07B1/40 ,  B22F12/52 ,  B22F12/67 ,  B22F10/14 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/90

CPC classification number: B29C64/153 ,  B07B1/40 ,  B22F12/52 ,  B22F12/67 ,  B29C64/205 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/329 ,  B29C64/35 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B22F10/14 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/90 ,  B22F2999/00 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F10/14 ,  B22F2999/00 ,  B22F12/52 ,  B22F12/67 ,  B22F3/004 ,  B22F2202/01

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for distributing build powder in powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) and for the collection of particulates of the build powder that have become suspended in the gaseous atmosphere in the vicinity of the build platform of the three-dimensional printer. These apparatuses include recoaters (20) that are particularly useful in providing uniform distribution of fine build powder across the width of the build platform or powder bed. The present invention also includes powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) which comprise such apparatuses for distributing build powder and/or apparatuses for collecting such suspended particulates. The improved fine powder recoater (20) uses an ultrasonic transducer (30) to move powder through a sheet screen (28). The sheet screen (28) may be presented to the powder fed onto it in a narrow dispensing slot to limit the flow rate of powder from the dispenser and to provide control over the amount of powder dispensed. The width of the slot may extend to cover the entire build box fill zone. The ultrasonic transducer (30) is preferably adapted to periodically sweep through a range of frequencies during operation. The ultrasonic vibration system may be augmented with a low frequency vibration system. The dust collection system (160) draws air from the perimeter of the build box (172) down through the deck plate (170) of the printer (2) and out of the printer's housing (164) to an external dust collector (250).

公开(公告)号：US20200180227A1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-11

申请号：US16620696

申请日：2018-06-12

Applicant: The ExOne Company

Inventor： Lawrence Joseph Voss ,  Joseph J. Bolt ,  Anthony S. Dugan ,  Michael John McCoy ,  Daniel T. Brunermer ,  Travis Maxwell Inks ,  Paul P. Knor

IPC: B29C64/329 ,  B29C64/205 ,  B07B1/40

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses for distributing build powder in powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) and for the collection of particulates of the build powder that have become suspended in the gaseous atmosphere in the vicinity of the build platform of the three-dimensional printer. These apparatuses include recoaters (20) that are particularly useful in providing uniform distribution of fine build powder across the width of the build platform or powder bed. The present invention also includes powder-layer three-dimensional printers (2) which comprise such apparatuses for distributing build powder and/or apparatuses for collecting such suspended particulates. The improved fine powder recoater (20) uses an ultrasonic transducer (30) to move powder through a sheet screen (28). The sheet screen (28) may be presented to the powder fed onto it in a narrow dispensing slot to limit the flow rate of powder from the dispenser and to provide control over the amount of powder dispensed. The width of the slot may extend to cover the entire build box fill zone. The ultrasonic transducer (30) is preferably adapted to periodically sweep through a range of frequencies during operation. The ultrasonic vibration system may be augmented with a low frequency vibration system. The dust collection system (160) draws air from the perimeter of the build box (172) down through the deck plate (170) of the printer (2) and out of the printer's housing (164) to an external dust collector (250).

公开(公告)号：US20170087771A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US15126724

申请日：2015-03-19

Applicant: The ExOne Company

Inventor： Daniel T. Brunermer ,  Patrick Stack ,  Lawrence Joseph Voss

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  G05B19/042

CPC classification number: G05B19/042 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y50/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  G05B2219/49023 ,  G06T19/00

Abstract: Methods are provided for solid free-form fabrication of an article without using a slice stack file quickly and efficiently—in terms of computational resources—converting STL files representing an article or articles to be built by SFFF without the use of a conventional slicing program. An application program interface (“API”) is used to generate a bitmap corresponding to each particular layer of the article that is to be printed directly from the article's STL file. This conversion may done essentially in real time immediately before the particular layer is to be printed. The bitmap is used in configuring the printing instructions for the SFFF printing mechanism to print that particular layer.