Patent ID: 11969947
Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 9:
10. A method of additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
depositing an additive material onto a substrate from a tip of a dispenser comprising a needle;
energizing a transducer coupled to the dispenser to transmit an emitted signal from the tip of the dispenser via the additive material to the substrate, wherein the transducer encircles the needle and is positioned proximate to the tip of the needle; and
detecting, with a sensor coupled to the dispenser, a return signal coupled from the substrate via the additive material to the dispenser, the return signal being indicative of a distance between the tip of the dispenser and the substrate, wherein the sensor encircles the needle and is positioned farther away from the tip of the needle than the transducer.