| STRATASYS, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120070619 | SEMI-CRYSTALLINE CONSUMABLE MATERIALS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable filament for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the consumable filament comprises a first portion of a first semi-crystalline polymeric material, and a second portion of a second semi-crystalline polymeric material, and where the second semi-crystalline polymeric material has a crystallization temperature that is greater than a crystallization temperature of the first semi-crystalline polymeric material. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120070523 | LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - 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. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068378 | METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS WITH EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - 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. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120018926 | Three-Dimensional Parts Having Porous Protective Structures - Three-dimensional parts having porous protective structures built with powder-based additive manufacturing systems, the porous protective structures being configured to protect the three-dimensional parts from damage during de-powdering processes. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018924 | MULTIPLE-ZONE LIQUEFIER ASSEMBLY FOR EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, and a method for building a three-dimensional model with the extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier tube having multiple, independently heatable zones along a longitudinal length of the liquefier tube. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110233804 | ENCODED CONSUMABLE MATERIALS AND SENSOR ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material and sensor assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by the sensor assembly, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the additive manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110232855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH METAL-BASED ALLOYS - A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110220781 | Optical Encoder - An optical encoder comprising a set of light sources configured to emit light rays in a serial manner, an encoded scale configured to reflect at least a portion of the emitted light rays, and a photodetector, where the photodetector is configured to detect at least a portion of the reflected light rays and to generate signals based on the detected light rays for each of the light sources. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110199104 | CAPACITIVE DETECTOR FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising a sense conductive component and an excitation conductive component to define a first gap that is configured to receive a consumable material used in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, where the excitation conductive component is configured to generate a first electrical field across the first gap. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110186081 | SUPPORT CLEANING SYSTEM - An automated support cleaning system comprising a tank disposed within a housing and configured to circulate an aqueous cleaning solution to remove a support structure from a three-dimensional model. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110180652 | FILAMENT CONTAINER AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - A container comprising a housing that is configured to rotatably mount a filament supply spool, and a filament guide mechanism mountable within a channel of the housing, where the filament guide mechanism comprises a filament pathway configured to guide the filament from the filament supply spool rotatably mounted in the interior chamber, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filament through at least a portion of the filament pathway. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110178621 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AND BUILDING SUPPORT STRUCTURES WITH DEPOSITION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A method for generating data for a support structure to be built with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the method comprising generating a convex hull polygon based on a boundary polygon of a layer of the support structure, offsetting the convex hull polygon inward, offsetting the boundary polygon outward, and generating an intersection boundary polygon based at least in part on the offset boundary polygon and the offset convex hull polygon. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110174915 | FILAMENT SPOOL AND FILAMENT SPOOL CONTAINER, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - A filament spool for use in a filament spool container, where the filament spool comprises a first rim and a second rim offset by an axial shaft, and a series of grooves extending along a first portion of the first rim and configured to receive a filament of a material while the filament is wound around the axial shaft in a first rotational direction. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110121476 | ENCODED CONSUMABLE MATERIALS AND SENSOR ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material and sensor assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by the sensor assembly, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the additive manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110117268 | CONSUMABLE MATERIALS HAVING ENCODED MARKINGS FOR USE WITH DIRECT DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by at least one sensor of a direct digital manufacturing system, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the direct digital manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110076496 | NON-CYLINDRICAL FILAMENTS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110076495 | CONSUMABLE MATERIALS HAVING TOPOGRAPHICAL SURFACE PATTERNS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a topographical surface pattern that is configured to engage with a drive mechanism of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110074065 | RIBBON LIQUEFIER FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A ribbon liquefier comprising an outer liquefier portion configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component, and a channel at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion, where the channel has dimensions that are configured to receive the ribbon filament, and where the ribbon liquefier is configured to melt the ribbon filament received in the channel to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially-asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip connected to the ribbon liquefier. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110070394 | SEAM CONCEALMENT FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS - A three-dimensional model built with an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, and having a perimeter based on a contour tool path that defines an interior region of a layer of the three-dimensional model, where at least one of a start point and a stop point of the contour tool path is located within the interior region of the layer. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20100327479 | CONSUMABLE MATERIALS HAVING CUSTOMIZED CHARACTERISTICS - A compounding system for forming a customized consumable material, comprising a plurality of drive mechanisms configured to feed stock materials at independent rates, and an extrusion component configured to receive the fed stock materials, and further configured to at least partially melt and blend the received stock materials to provide the consumable material in an extrudable state. Upon solidifying, the consumable material comprises customized characteristics based on characteristics of the stock materials. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100283172 | CONSUMABLE ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS - A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100270707 | SOULUBLE MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING - The present invention is a composition for making a three-dimensional object. The composition comprises a plasticizer and a base polymer, where the base polymer comprises a carboxylic acid, where the composition is soluble in an alkaline solution. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100193998 | INORGANIC IONIC SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A support material for use with a digital manufacturing system, the support material comprising at least one inorganic ionic compound and is configured to be deposited with the digital manufacturing system using a layer-based additive technique to form a support structure for supporting at least one overhanging region of a three-dimensional model built with the digital manufacturing system. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100166969 | SYRINGE TIP ASSEMBLY AND LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS UTILIZING THE SAME - A syringe tip assembly comprising a seal component configured to engage a syringe tip, a nozzle configured to slidably engage with the seal component, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing pressure between the seal component and the nozzle. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100161105 | COMBINED PROCESS FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS - A method and system for building a three-dimensional model, which include performing a subtractive removal process on at least one material feedstock to form a plurality of base seeds, performing an additive deposition process to deposit at least one material on at least a portion of a base seed target surface, and performing an assembly process to combine the plurality of base seeds to form at least a portion of the three-dimensional model. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100140849 | EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS USING SELECTIVE RADIATION EXPOSURE - A system for building a three-dimensional object based on build data representing the three-dimensional object, the system comprising an extrusion head configured to deposit a radiation-curable material in consecutive layers, where the radiation-curable material of each of the consecutive layers is in a self-supporting state, and a radiation source configured to selectively expose a portion of at least one of the consecutive layers to radiation in accordance with the build data. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100100224 | ADJUSTABLE HEAD MOUNT FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A head mount for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the head mount comprises a first component supported by at least one gantry of the digital manufacturing system, and a second component configured to retain a deposition head of the digital manufacturing system, and to move relative to the first component in response to a load applied to the deposition head from a platform assembly of the digital manufacturing system. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100100222 | ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM ASSEMBLY FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEM - A platform assembly for use in a digital manufacturing system, where the platform assembly comprises a deformable platform having a surface configured to operably receive a deposited material from a deposition head, and at least one mechanism configured to adjust at least a portion of the first surface to compensate for at least one vertical deviation from at least one horizontal axis that the deposition head is directed to move in. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096489 | FILAMENT SPOOL - A filament spool for use in a filament spool container, where the filament spool comprises a first rim and a second rim offset by an axial shaft, and a series of grooves extending along a first portion of the first rim and configured to receive a filament of a material while the filament is wound around the axial shaft in a first rotational direction. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096485 | FILAMENT GUIDE MECHANISM FOR FILAMENT SPOOL CONTAINER - A container comprising a housing that is configured to rotatably mount a filament supply spool, and a filament guide mechanism mountable within a channel of the housing, where the filament guide mechanism comprises a filament pathway configured to guide the filament from the filament supply spool rotatably mounted in the interior chamber, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filament through at least a portion of the filament pathway. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096072 | SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - A support material feedstock comprising a first copolymer and a polymeric impact modifier, where the first copolymer includes a first monomer unit comprising a carboxyl group and a second monomer unit comprising a phenyl group. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100086721 | SUPPORT STRUCTURE PACKAGING - A method comprising building at least one three-dimensional model and a support structure using a layer-based additive technique, where the at least one three-dimensional model is at least partially encased in the support structure, and where the support structure functions as a shipping package for the at least one three-dimensional model. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20090321972 | Vapor smoothing surface finishing system - A system and method is provided for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object. A cabinet housing has a sealable interior. A heated vapor chamber in the interior of the cabinet housing contains solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor for smoothing the object when the object is placed in the vapor chamber. A drying chamber is also provided in the interior of the cabinet housing that is separate from the vapor chamber for drying the object when the object is moved from the vapor chamber to the drying chamber. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090314391 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH METAL-BASED ALLOYS - A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090299517 | METHOD FOR BUILDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS WITH EXTRUSION-BASED LAYERED DEPOSITION SYSTEMS - A method of forming a three-dimensional object using an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the method comprising generating a build path for building a layer of the three-dimensional object, where the build path defines a void region. The method further comprising generating at least one intermediate path in the void region, and generating a remnant path based at least in part on the at least one intermediate path. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090295032 | Method of building three-dimensional object with modified ABS materials - A method for building a 3D object with an extrusion-based layered deposition system comprising feeding a modified ABS material to an extrusion head of the extrusion-based layered deposition system, melting the fed modified ABS material in the extrusion head under conditions that improve a response time of the extrusion head, and depositing the molten thermoplastic material in a layer-by-layer manner to form the 3D object. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090274540 | Filament drive mechanism for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems - A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least one rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable component, thereby allowing the engaged internally-threaded surface to drive the filament strand through the central hole of the rotatable component. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090273122 | Liquefier assembly for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems - A liquefier assembly comprising a liquefier tube, where the liquefier tube comprises a sidewall having an inlet opening configured to receive a filament strand, an outlet opening, and a port disposed through the sidewall at a location between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the port being configured to provide access for a filament drive mechanism to engage with the received filament strand. The liquefier assembly further comprises a heat transfer component configured to generate a thermal gradient along a longitudinal length of the sidewall between the port and the outlet opening. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090271323 | Transactional Method for Building Three-Dimensional Objects - The present invention is a method ( | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090263582 | DIGITAL MANUFACTURING WITH AMORPHOUS METALLIC ALLOYS - A method for building a three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer manner, the method comprising heating a build chamber of a digital manufacturing system, feeding a solid feedstock of a modeling material comprising an amorphous metallic alloy to a liquefier assembly of the digital manufacturing system, heating the modeling material of the solid feedstock in the liquefier assembly to an extrudable state, and depositing the heated modeling material within the heated build chamber in a predetermined pattern to form the three-dimensional object. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090177309 | System for building three-dimensional objects containing embedded inserts, and method of use thereof - A system for building a three-dimensional object with a layer-based additive technique, the system comprising a controller configured to receive build sequence data for the three-dimensional object, a head assembly in signal communication with the controller and configured to form a plurality of layers of the three-dimensional object based on the build sequence data, and an insert placement apparatus in signal communication with the controller and configured to place at least one insert in the plurality of formed layers based on the build sequence data. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090174709 | Method for building three-dimensional objects containing embedded inserts - A method for generating build sequence data for a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising identifying a location of an insert data representation in the computer-aided design model, slicing the computer-aided design model into a plurality of sliced layers, generating a plurality of support layers for at least a portion of the plurality of sliced layers, and generating an unfilled region in the computer-aided design model at the identified location of the insert data representation. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090173443 | Method for building and using three-dimensional objects containing embedded identification-tag inserts - A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising performing a build operation to form layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique, placing the identification-tag insert on at least a portion of the layers during the build operation, and reading information from the identification-tag insert. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090035405 | Extrusion head for use in extrusion-based layered deposition modeling - An extrusion head comprising at least one mounting structure, a first liquefier pump secured to the at least one mounting structure, a second liquefier pump disposed adjacent to the first liquefier pump, a toggle mechanism supported by the at least one mounting structure and configured to move the second liquefier pump relative to the first liquefier pump along a first axis, and a slot engagement assembly connected in part to the second liquefier pump for defining a range of motion for the second liquefier pump along the first axis. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090018685 | Method for building three-dimensional objects with thin wall regions - A method for modifying a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising establishing a threshold wall width, providing at least one sliced layer polyline of the computer-aided design model, determining a first distance between first and second portions of the at least one sliced layer polyline, and adjusting locations of the first and second portion to provide a second distance if the first distance is less than the threshold wall width, where the second distance is about equal to the threshold wall width, or greater. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20080317894 | Extrusion tip cleaning assembly - A tip cleaning assembly for use with an extrusion head of an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the tip cleaning assembly comprising a support component, a purge ledge assembly mounted on the support component, at least one set block mounted on the support component adjacent the purge ledge assembly, and at least one contact head removably mounted on the first set block, where the at least one contact head is configured to engage at least one extrusion tip of the extrusion head. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080213419 | Viscosity pump for extrusion-based deposition systems - A pump system comprising a delivery assembly configured to feed a solid material under operational power of a first drive motor, and a screw pump comprising a housing that at least partially defines a barrel of the screw pump, an extrusion tip secured to the housing at a first end of the barrel, a liquefier secured to the housing and intersecting with the barrel, and an impeller extending at least partially through the barrel. The liquefier is configured to receive the solid material fed from the delivery assembly, to at least partially melt the received solid material, and to direct the at least partially melted material to the barrel, and the impeller is configured to drive the at least partially melted material that is directed to the barrel toward the extrusion tip under operational power of a second drive motor. | 09-04-2008 |
