Patent ID: 9707721
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Claim:
1. A CNC machine operable in forming a body of a selected configuration, comprising: a worktable supported on a bed having a support surface disposed in an x-y plane; a transversely disposed gantry supported on said bed; a carriage supported on said gantry displaceable along the x-axis; a tool holder supported in said carriage, displaceable along a z-axis; a control computer operable pursuant to an inputted operating program to displace at least one of said gantry, said carriage, and said tool holder; an extruder mountable on said tool holder having an inlet connected to a source of a heated, pliable thermoplastic material and an outlet nozzle directable toward said worktable, wherein a diameter of the outlet nozzle is smaller than a diameter of the inlet of the extruder, wherein the extruder includes an annular appendage surrounding the extruder, and wherein the outlet nozzle extends distally of the annular appendage; and an applicator detachably mountable on said extruder, the applicator comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a recess configured to receive and detachably secure the annular appendage, and the lower portion including a bottom opening, wherein the bottom opening is configured to receive the outlet nozzle of said extruder, wherein said lower portion includes a planar base portion and at least one depending wall extending from the planar base portion toward said worktable, and wherein an entirety of said at least one depending wall is disposed distally of the bottom opening.