Patent ID: 11883879
Assignee: ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Materials, metallurgy (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A method for controlling a flow of a build material through a 3D printer, the method comprising:
actuating a valve into a closed position to prevent the build material from flowing into or through an ejector of the 3D printer, wherein the valve comprises a cooler positioned at least partially around the build material, wherein actuating the valve into the closed position comprises cooling the build material to below a melting point of the build material using the cooler to form a solid plug to prevent the build material from flowing therethrough;
actuating the valve into an open position to permit the build material to flow into or through the ejector, wherein the valve also comprises a heater positioned radially inward or radially outward from the cooler, and wherein actuating the valve into the open position comprises re-heating the build material to above the melting point of the material using the heater to allow the build material to flow therethrough; and
ejecting a drop of the build material through a nozzle of the ejector onto a substrate, wherein the drop cools and solidifies thereon to form a 3D object.