Patent ID: 9481132
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B29C,B29L,B33Y

Claim Text:
1. A system comprising: a number of tools including an extruder; a tool crib including a number of bins to receive the number of tools; a sensor system to detect a presence of the tools in the bins; an active element to manipulate one of the tools in one of the bins, wherein the active element includes a heating element; a robotic system to pick and place the number of tools in the number of bins, the robotic system including an x-y-z positioning system of a three-dimensional printer, the tool crib positioned within an operating envelope of the x-y-z positioning system within a build chamber of the three-dimensional printer; and a controller configured to control operation of the sensor system, the active element, and the robotic system, wherein the controller is configured to preheat the extruder with the heating element prior to use in a three-dimensional printing process, and wherein the controller is configured to clean the extruder within the tool crib.