Patent ID: 9022769
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
1. An extrusion-based additive manufacturing system comprising: a filament drive mechanism configured to feed a filament of a consumable material; a liquefier having an inlet end and an outlet end offset along a longitudinal length; an extrusion tip secured to the outlet end of the liquefier; a first thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier; a second thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier; a third thermal unit operably secured to the liquefier such that the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit are positioned along the longitudinal length of the liquefier between the inlet end and the outlet end of the liquefier; at least one electrically-insulative sleeve extending at least partially around all of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit; and a controller configured to operate the filament drive mechanism to feed the filament to the inlet end of the liquefier, and to independently operate each of the first thermal unit, the second thermal unit, and the third thermal unit to produce independently heatable zones along the longitudinal length of the liquefier for melting the consumable material of the fed filament in the liquefier.