Apparatus and method for recycling material into an object using at least one of an additive and subtractive process, powered by renewable, non-renewable, or internal energy devices, and controlled remotely by artificial intelligence, voice command, and wireless network controllers

An apparatus and method for recycling material into an object using at least one of an additive and subtractive process, powered by renewable, non-renewable, or internal energy devices, and including a grinder module, washing module, tool exchange and storage, and imaging devices, and controlled remotely by artificial intelligence, voice command, and network controllers is provided.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to recycling systems, and more particularly, to a rechargeable recycling, manufacturing, scanning, internet-of-things system and process facilitated by artificial intelligence and powered by renewable, standard, and/or recaptured energy systems.

The Earth has limited and unlimited raw resources, which are being exponentially depleted by an exponentially increasing human population, who buys products made out of these raw resources. The products made by these resources have a very short, useful life and thus, are contributing to an exponential increase in the amount of pollution, including, but not limited to, meltable pollution, also known as recyclables. As waste management is expensive and as recyclables are mostly not being recycled, the recyclables are causing environmental degradation, filling up the world's landfills, dumps, and waterways, threatening the health of life on Earth. Increased automation and the internet have resulted in massive unemployment and underemployment, which further increases armed conflict and crime for access to the resources required to survive and grow. Long supply chains, each of which requires a margin to be profitable, significantly increases the cost of products to consumers, who then save less and borrow more, which harms the economy.

Manufacturing new products requires expensive building materials, systems, and advanced knowledge, skills, and tools to convert materials into a new product. While 3D printing (“3DP”), injection molding/die-casting/other casting (“IM”), painting/dyeing (“coloring”), and/or 2D/3D and thermal scanning (“scanning”) are traditionally additive processes, and CNC machining (“CNC”) and is traditionally a subtractive process—3DP, IM, and/or scanning also wholly rely on subtractive processes like, but not limited to, tool head removing, software slicing, mono/poly-chrome and topographical contrasting, pixelating, compartmentalizing, and/or casting, not traditionally taught, just as CNC and recycling also rely on additive processes, like but not to software compilation, software updates, building material compilation, tool head replacement, and accumulative sorting, in a manner not traditionally taught, such that respectively and/or collectively these processes more often than not have both additive and subtractive processes, not traditionally taught, and leveraged in this invention.

All are useful in manufacturing, and many 3DP, IM, and CNC patents for systems and software have expired and/or have been made available for public use, allowing for their respective and/or collective use in new ways, yet 3DP, IM, and CNC typically consume costly one-time use material(s), which in the aggregate(s) can contribute to environmental pollution, and the over-consumption of new resources, building materials, or components thereof.

As can be seen there is a need for a novice-friendly decision-based input-output system facilitated by interactive software and hardware that communicates with users in a more natural visual and verbal manner, collectively known here as artificial intelligence, that can teach and provide either or both additive and subtractive processes, useful in manufacturing and product designing, while aiding in reducing environmental pollution, and reducing the consumption of non-renewable energy and new building materials or components thereof, by recycling and reusing many, most, if not all, meltable and/or recyclable materials to make new products for novice users, and using renewable energy and recaptured energy technologies, storable in rechargeable batteries to do the same.

Because different users have different consumption and manufacturing needs, most with little background, skills, knowledge, and experience in recycling, manufacturing, and product design processes, there is need for a scalable system that can assist novice users in how to control these processes to more readily produce items of their choosing. There is also a need for rechargeable systems described herein, which can be powered by renewable and/or standard energy sources, and/or use energy recapturing technologies, so that power consumption contributes as little as possible to additional resource consumption and environmental pollution, while allowing users more flexibility as to the environments where and how they can use this system, some mobile, fixed, outside, inside, remote, direct, and some on and off the Earth.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the disclosure, a system for recycling, manufacturing, and/or scanning material in an additive and/or subtractive process comprises a frame; (a) machine(s) head(s) system(s) coupled to the frame and movable within (an) interior volume(s) of the frame, the machine(s) head (s) system(s) including: a first machine head configured to perform additive and/or subtractive manufacturing processes when attached to the clamp(s) and/or frame, and/or additional machine(s) head(s) configured to perform subtractive and/or additive manufacturing processes when attached to the clamp(s) and/or frame, and a mechatronically-controlled motor(s) control system(s) coupled to the machine(s) head(s) system(s); (a) grinder(s) module(s) attached to the frame, including: (a) hopper(s) for receiving many different recyclable and/or recycled meltable material(s), (a) grinder(s) for grinding the recycled meltable material into a grain, and (a) container(s) disposed to collect the grain from the grinder; (a) wash and dry module(s) coupled to the container of collected grain, the wash and dry module(s) including: a cleaning and drying fluid chamber, a first conduit connected between the cleaning fluid chamber and the container of collected grain, and a vacuum system configured to draw clean grain from the cleaning chamber, through the first conduit and into the container of collected grain; a mechatronically-controlled controller coupled to the motor(s) control system(s), the controller including (a) processor(s) configured to: receive (an) interactive user input request(s) for producing (an) additive manufacturing-based object(s) and/or a subtractive process-based object(s), issue user guidance commands to a user to input task commands performed by the system to manufacture the requested additive and/or subtractive manufacturing-based object and/or process, operate the pressurizable transportation, washing, and/or drying module(s) to clean and transport the collected grain for cleaning, storage, and/or use, when the grain is being used for an additive and/or subtractive manufacturing and/or recycling processes, control positioning and operation of the machine(s) head(s) system(s) according to the task(s) commands input(s) by the user to: melt the collected grain cleaned by the washing and drying module into a melted feed for additive and/or subtractive processes, load the melted feed into the first machine head coupled to the machine(s) head(s) system(s), extrude the melted feed from the first machine head(s) to form the requested additive and/or subtractive manufacturing-based and/or recycling-based object and/or, remove material from an arbitrarily-shaped object using the second and/or additional machine head(s). All this facilitated by the system's artificial intelligence, and powered by renewable, recaptured, standard, and/or rechargeable energy sources about, on, in, and/or attached to the apparatus of the system as described herein.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a process for recycling, manufacturing, and/or scanning material for reuse within a system in an additive and/or subtractive process comprises receiving system and/or (a) user input(s) and/or output(s) request(s) for producing (an) additive and/or (a) subtractive manufacturing-based, and/or recycling-based, and/or scanning-based object(s), and/or designs, and/or process(es), with artificial intelligence issuing step by step user guidance put and/or output commands to a user and/or the system to input and/or output task(s) commands performed by the system to manufacture, scan, and/or recycle the requested additive and/or (a) subtractive manufacturing-based, and/or recycling-based and/or scanning-based object(s), design(s), and/or process(es), including, but not limited to: inserting an object for scanning to create a design file to be used in conjunction with the system, and recyclable, meltable material(s) into (a) grinder module(s), wherein the user is providing types of items that are meltable and usable in the system, as facilitated by by artificial intelligence, and providing finished product(s) characteristics received by the system to produce the additive and/or (a) subtractive manufacturing-based, and/or recycling-based object(s), designs, and/or process(es), cleaning grain with a washing module of the system, grain collected from the grinder module produced by grinding the inserted recyclable, meltable, melting by a heat source in the system, the grain cleaned, dried, and transported by the washing, drying, and transportation modules into a melted feed for additive and/or subtractive manufacturing, recycling, and/or scanning processes, objects, and/or designs, loading the melted feed into the first machine head coupled to the machine head system, extruding the melted feed from additive and/or (a) subtractive manufacturing-based, scanning-based, and/or recycling-based module(s), design(s), and/or process(es) to form and/or generate the requested object(s), processes, and/or design(s), removing material from an arbitrarily shaped object placed in the system by using the scanning, subtractive, and/or additive process machine head(s) to produce the requested object(s), process(es), and/or design(s). All this facilitated by the system's artificial intelligence, and powered by renewable, recaptured, standard, and/or rechargeable energy sources about, on, in, and/or attached to the apparatus of the system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OR DRAWINGS

In general, embodiments of the present disclosure, provide a rechargeable system that may recycle a wide range of meltable material(s), and may re-use the recycled meltable material(s) within the system for additive and/or subtractive processing reducing and/or eliminating the need for new raw materials in the manufacturing of new products, a system which can be built or scaled smaller or larger to accommodate different user needs. Figures (sometimes referred to as “Fig.”)1through11C are exemplary embodiments of the system, and pertain to the additive and/or subtractive processing configurations of the system, including, but not limited to, the recycling, scanning, coloring, 3D printing, CNC, IM, hardware processing, software processing, firmware processing, mechatronic processing, washing/cleaning, filtering, materials accumulating, materials separation, materials transportation, drying, energy-generating, energy-storing, energy-transferring, product designing, and/or product making configurations of the system, described in part by processes described inFIGS. 12-15—but not limited to the same.

The meltable recyclables and/or other meltable material(s) may be ground into a shard, granule, crystal, particulate, shred, grain, and/or powder (“grain”), which can then be used as building material feed for recycling, scanning, 3DP, CNC, and/or IM which, may be used for manufacturing and/or design of a three dimensional (“3D”) article or object.

The descriptions of the embodiments of the invention herein, coupled withFIGS. 1 through 11C, are collectively representative of embodiments of the invention, and as such, may collectively be referred to in general herein as the “system”, whileFIGS. 12-15are collectively representative of operations related to the system and may be referred to in general as an embodiment of the related “process(es)”, but not limited to the same.

A MHS42(FIG. 10A) and/or deck44(FIGS. 10A-11C) may be configured in the system for use in, additive and/or subtractive manufacturing, along with a smaller reversible building deck114, locked into larger deck44by swiveling arms122, a deck114which allows for use of toothed-screw clamps120, along tracks124, on one side only, to clamp down objects78, as required or instructed by the system82(FIG. 1) and/or or process (FIG. 12-15).

As will be appreciated, the system makes use of what would otherwise be waste products contributing to global pollution, and instead re-purposes meltable recyclable material(s) and/or other meltable material(s), into useful end products, in addition to reducing the need for new, unused, and/or expensive building materials or consumables for creating 3D articles or objects.

As will be appreciated, aspects of the system and processes reduce the meltable pollution or recyclables on Earth by giving a new value to recyclables as free (or at least inexpensive) building material for the production of new products and designs, while reducing the energy consumption of the system by employing not just standard energy sources, but also, and/or alternatively, renewable, recaptured, and/or rechargeable energy sources.

In addition, aspects disclosed reduce the rate of environmental degradation by repurposing more recyclables into new products, by reducing the rate at which meltable pollution can enter the environment to pollute allowing the Earth more time to recover.

Further, there is a reduced need of others to buy what they can make, and in doing so, breaks the buy-new cycle and reduces the conflict required to access new raw resources to make new products, reducing armed conflict in the world, increasing economic stability, prosperity, quality of life, happiness, creativity, and human potential.

Moreover, aspects of the subject technology allow users to take a world problem, garbage, and repurpose the same into over seven hundred thousand different new products or solutions, which creates a potential for users to make and sell products, designs, and recyclables materials to others, to not only have the invention pay for itself, but to potentially make a significant profit, and as such this invention could allow someone to become employed as a manufacturer, reducing their need to engage in crime and/or conflict to access the resources required to survive, bettering the social fabric and infrastructure.

The system disclosed decentralizes the power and influence of the world's oligarchs, by allowing many homes and offices to make new inexpensive products out of their own garbage instead of constantly buying expensive products. As a result, the need for expensive supply chains is reduced, increasing savings and profits, which can benefit the economy.

As will be further appreciated, some embodiments may be facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI), so that novice users can make and/or design products with one system, and/or generate, load, upload, download, and/or trade designs and/or materials as guided by and instructed by AI.

In some embodiments, the system may include a proximity activation system160(FIG. 1), which powers up the system from a low power state of hibernation, intended to save the amount of energy used by the system, when not in use. The activation system160may include for example, thermal, pressure, light, movement, sound or other sensors, which may detect a user's proximity to the system and in response, activate the system.

In some embodiments,82(FIG. 1)—a mechatronically-controlled and operated user interface or controller, central processing unit (“CPU”) or controller's processor, monitor/touch screen controller, light emitting diodes, static and/or dynamic and fixed and/or removable memory drives, expansion cards, input/output devices, printed circuit motherboard, peripherals, wireless networking, network, server, microphone controller, speaker, wiring, cables, connectors, operating system, software, firmware, artificial intelligence controller, and/or mechatronic components—may issue (a) verbal/audio and/or visual request(s) to the user, asking the user whether or not to input if they wish to operate the system when detected within proximity, presenting the user with use and/or troubleshooting input and/or output choices and/or directions, as specifically described in the embodiments found inFIGS. 12-15, but not limited to the same.

In some embodiments, the system and its components may be powered by the system's power cord and plug108(FIG. 1) and/or by a rechargeable battery88(FIG. 3), which may be held by the battery rack102(FIG. 3) and/or by an energy recapture, generating, and transfer system129(FIGS. 3, 5, 8, and 9) and/or by a renewable energy system170(FIGS. 1 and 4), which may or may not include the rechargeable battery88, as governed by82.

In some embodiments, the system may be configured to use a renewable energy source170, which may employ a renewable energy power source regulator106(FIG. 1), which with82transforms, rectifies, capacitates, and/or delivers variable electrical energy to the system in a useable and controlled manner, to prevent power surges and damage to electrical components within the apparatus of the system.

The recapture energy system129may include for example, environmental sensors172configured to detect sources of energy given off by processes when the system is in operation and generate electricity to power the system in response to detection. For example, the recapture energy system129(FIG. 9) may include, pressure sensor generators174, positioned near elements that receive weight (such as containers receiving recycled material (FIG. 5A, but could also be found under 20 in the lower position26(FIG. 4) in another configuration) or under melted material (FIG. 10A) etc.); heat sensor generators176positioned on the frame10(FIG. 5A), camera138, tool head (FIG. 8), and near the building area of deck44(FIG. 5B) so that heat generated during building is recaptured; vibration sensor generators178positioned near for example, moving elements (FIGS. 8 and 3); rotational sensor generators positioned proximate rotating elements (FIGS. 8 and 3) such as those moving on threaded shafts (described below); electromagnetic (22,52,164B) and/or photovoltaic-based170sensor generators detecting electromagnetism from the environment and/or system components. The frame10and panelling12may have heat dissipating and/or energy-generating capabilities when paired with heat micro-generator176.

As the sensors detect their respective energy sources, and generate electricity, wires186(positive wire188, negative wire190, and ground192wrapped within insulation184) transfer electricity to, for example, the battery pack88, powering system108, and/or regulator106.

It will be understood that the regulator106may be integrated onto the system or may be separable/distinct and plugged into plug108.

As will be appreciated, the rechargeable battery pack88, the renewable energy power source regulator106provide, the renewable energy power generator170, the powering system108, and/or the recaptured energy system129power self-sufficiency allowing the system to be mobile and untethered to an electrical grid.

Accordingly, embodiments of the system may be powered and recharged by renewable170, rechargeable88, recaptured129, and/or primarily non-renewable (“standard”) energy sources104(FIG. 1), via the power cord and plug108.

The internal components of the system may be configured to provide additive and/or subtractive manufacturing, recycling, and/or scanning processes as described in more detail below. To facilitate or govern recycling and additive and/or subtractive processes, a software-controlled panel and monitor82may provide a user interface to control the operation and/or movement of the system's components, and/or to add, delete, store, and/or modify (via embedded operating system, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-fi, and/or other technologies) the system's software, and/or related 3D manufacturing software, and/or designs.

Some embodiments may include an infrared camera138to monitor and/or troubleshoot the status of a build, and/or to monitor the integrity and/or positioning of the moving system components and/or build, in collaboration with the systems' control interface82, and/or in collaboration with positioning sensors164A and164B (FIG. 8), and/or in collaboration with the systems' temperature sensors70(FIG. 8) and/or heat microgenerators176,129,172(FIG. 8), and/or in collaboration with the user (FIG. 12-15). The controller may use the infrared camera138signal to alert the user if a part of the system, process, and/or build may be failing, to be able to facilitate the troubleshooting of the same with and/or without the user, depending on the situation.

As described inFIGS. 12-15, andFIGS. 1-3, once the system recognizes the user want to use the same, and powers up from hibernation mode, and presents the user with the verbal and visual options, instructions, and location to recycle meltable materials, as selected by the user, the user places clean or dirty homogenous materials30through the recycler door14, which enter the recycling chamber36, down a hopper (FIG. 3). Once the door safety switch lock couplers116close the switch, and lock the door, the system knows that it is safe to start an x-axis motor58spinning the grinder22, and descending the form-fitting crushing plate118using another motor52, which forces the meltable recyclables into the grinder.

Once the meltable material is ground into a grain32by the grinder22and plate118, the grain32may be collected below the grinder/hopper compartment28in a removable container20located in a collection compartment26, which may readily be accessed through door34(FIG. 1).

Some embodiments may include a pressurizable washing, drying, and transportation system coupled to the removable container, as to allow the user to not have to remove the container, and/or to make use of two removable containers at the same time, one in the upper rack/shelf38(FIG. 1) and/or one in the lower rack/shelf26(FIG. 2).

To help preserve the need to use homogenous meltable materials with the same or similar optimal melting temperature ranges—to eliminate or reduce the meltable materials of impurities—embodiments may include a pressurizable washing and drying module140(FIG. 3) to wash and dry material grain32. The washing module140may contain cleaning fluid (fed via ingoing valve166) which may be drawn in and/or out of the cleaning module through mechatronically-controlled outgoing valve168. Mechatronically-controlled valves168and196allow for fluids to be added or removed from the system to help enable the washing and drying functions.

In some embodiments, material from20may be cleaned and dried in the washing module140by the turning of a waterproof rotary propeller194connected to the Y-axis shaft54of the Y-axis motor52of the positioning system (described below) for motorized washing and drying of the grain32. Dirty and clean grain32may be drawn up out of container20while positioned in the grinder chamber26by a fluid compressing/vacuuming/blowing unit127, which may pressurize and depressurize fluid along chambers127,140, and146, via pressurizable conduits200,150, and154, governed by mechatronically-controlled pressurizable valves (FIGS. 5B, 5A, 3, and 1)196,166,168,142, and148, to be able to clean, dry, store, move, and use grain32about the system, for use in additive and/or subtractive recycling, manufacturing, and/or scanning processes.

As will be appreciated, the inclusion of washing and drying module140provides users an uninterrupted switch from subtractive recycling processes back to additive processes as recyclable material, without having to hand-clean the same.

Referring toFIGS. 3, 4, 5A, and 5B, the system may also include a vacuum unit127including an air filter (for example, a charcoal filter) purifying air from the system. As will be appreciated, emissions from the additive and/or subtractive processes may cause noxious fumes, which are not conducive to a home or office environments, when using the system indoors. For example, when plastic is heated (as in the process of melting ground up grain32for additive processes or when a subtractive process is removing material from an object created by the additive process), if the plastic is heated improperly, foul smelling emissions may permeate the area.

The vacuum-blower unit and replaceable filter combination127may filter air derived from air-in mechatronically controlled air valves142a(drawing in exterior air) and142b(drawing in air from the interior of the building chamber) which may draw system fluid in, through, and out of the system, with or without dirty or cleaned grain32via pressurizable conduits200,150, and154, employing mechatronically-controlled valves (FIGS. 5B, 5A, 3, and 1)196,166,168,142, and148. The air filter may include a vacuum blowing fluid compression unit to clean air from mechatronically controlled air valves142b. Air entering the pressurizable chamber146may be filtered and returned for use into the system via mechatronically controlled valve148b, or may be expelled from the system via air-out148a(FIG. 5A).

As will be appreciated, the filtered outgoing air within the system via air-out148b, may be used to move fluid or elements throughout the system, without contaminating the homogenous materials, which need to be homogenous or near homogenous regarding their type of material(s) and/or optimal melting temperatures, employing pressurizable storage chamber146and mechatronically-controllable valves196.

Also, such a system via conduit150may be connected to valve148band to other parts of the system that need forced air such as the paint gun tool head134, tool head136, and/or disconnected from conduit154to function as a chamber blower150(FIG. 5A) for system clean-up. A conduit150(secured to the frame by a clamp152) may in some embodiments connect to a conduit154(FIG. 3), which is connected between the collection chamber20via conduit156(with air/cleaning fluid entering the collection chamber20being controlled by valve158) and may be pressurized and depressurized in coordination with controllable valves196to transfer grain32to the washing and drying module140, and also to blow grain down and around container20eventually into conduit40and then into subtractive and/or additive recycling and/or manufacturing with the MHS42. When grain32is ready to be used in the MHS42, the dried grain32and air fluid from140passes through mechatronically controlled valves196and conduits154,150, and156through valve158into container20, for future use in additive and/or subtractive manufacturing, recycling, and/or scanning processes.

In some embodiments, the replaceable filter and vacuum-blower combination from127is connected to the mechatronically-controlled valve/conduit200, which in turn connects to pressurizable chamber146. Collectively, this vacuum-blowing, filtered, cleaning, and drying system allows for very homogenous material being used in the system, and allows for grain32to make its way through various chambers in the system.

FIG. 1,FIG. 4,FIGS. 10A-10C, andFIGS. 11A-11Cillustrate the first of two fundamental differences between the system's additive and subtractive processing configurations, where the MI-1S42extruder funnel66b(FIG. 10A), and associated MI-1S42threaded lid66a(FIG. 10A), for use in additive processing functionality, may be removed inFIG. 11A, to allow for subtractive processing functionality.

To make the change from additive to subtractive processing configurations, the extruder funnel66bmay be unscrewed from the MI-1S42threaded lid66a. The lid66amay screw onto a thread90about the exterior base of the MI-1S42drill bit clamp86(FIG. 10A). Once unscrewed from the base of the drill bit clamp86(FIG. 10A), the threaded lid66a, and the threaded extruder funnel66b, which can screw together to form a chamber, may be collectively stored on storage hooks18(FIG. 4), which may employ a storage ring126attached to extruder funnel66b, and typically also store with an unclamped drill bit64, for the purpose of having a dedicated lid66a, funnel66b, and drill bit64complex84(FIG. 1), for dedicated use with different homogenous meltable recyclable and/or other meltable materials. Complex84may also be stored with other tools136on the tool exchange system128in one of the holding/releasing clips130, to be exchanged by the system, where the moveable tool head can access the tools in the tool exchange system128(FIGS. 6-7), snapping tools heads on and/or off using any number of configurations, for example snap in lock system, and/or electromagnets, but not limited to the same.

The complex84arrangement permits one to not have to clean or cross-contaminate lid66a, funnel66b, and drill bit64when using the system with more than one homogenous melting material over the system's useful life, so that each homogenous melting material type would typically have a dedicated melting complex84(FIG. 1), composed of a dedicated lid66a, dedicated funnel66b, and dedicated drill bit64, a complex84which may be collectively stored on hooks18, and/or on motorized tool head exchange complex128when other meltable materials30are being employed for future additive and/or subtractive recycling, manufacturing, and/or scanning, other than the homogenous meltable material that the complex84is dedicated to.

Similarly, ground homogenous grain32in many different collection containers20may be removed from compartment26and stored for future homogenous or dedicated use. In another embodiment, for the system's subtractive processing configurationsFIGS. 11A-C, dedicated drill bit(s)64and/or other CNC machining tools that fit in the drill bit clamp86, may be used and/or stored on/in the small external box, cabinet, and/or shelf/shelves94, generally depicted inFIG. 4andFIG. 1, attached to the system's panel components12(FIG. 1), which may be attached to the system's frame components10(FIG. 1).

In another embodiment, the second of the two fundamental differences between the system's additive and subtractive processing configurations, may do with the position of the reversible and lockable building deck114(FIG. 10A-10C and 11A-11C), embedded and locked into the worker's building deck44(FIGS. 10A-10C and 11A-11C). The lockable building deck114is locked by pivoting locks/arms122(FIGS. 10A-10C and 11A-11C) which pivot from the worker's deck44, over the reversible deck114. Here, the additive processing configuration, perFIG. 10A, may store and conceal the separate adjustable toothed-screw clamp(s)120(FIG. 10AandFIG. 10B) embedded in deck114for typical use with securing arbitrarily shaped objects78in place during CNC machining, where each clamp120may be found on separate and differently-oriented tracks124, within one side of the reversible building deck114, one track124, for each adjustable toothed-screw clamp120, which otherwise, when in CNC configuration, may collectively be revealed, employed, adjusted, screwed down, and/or clamped about blocks of recycled material made by the system and/or other CNC building materials, for CNC machining. The adjustable screw clamps120employed in CNC machining configuration may be concealed or stored by the additive processing configuration (FIG. 10A), by flipping over and locking the reversible building deck114, storing the adjustable screw clamps120, which may be stored in fitted voids, grooves, or tracks within the worker's deck44during the additive processing configuration, locked down by locks/arms122.

An alternative embodiment may employ the screw clamps120and tracks124, embedded in deck114, for use with IM, allowing the subtractive function of the reversible plate114to be used in an additive IM function. In another embodiment, IM cast(s) may be placed on deck114and under the funnel66spout, to be filled by the molten meltable materials74, derived from the additive processing configuration, a form of stationary 3DP, on a CNC and/or 3DP scaffolding.

An alternative embodiment has more or less than four sets of screw clamps120, swivel arms122, and/or tracks124in any configuration, form-fitting in appropriate and different44depressions, when stores, to be able to hold onto many different objects of varying geometries.

When used in a CNC (subtractive) or injection molding configuration (additive), the reversible plate114has its four adjustable and toothed screw clamps120facing up, exposed on the relative surface of114, four clamps which slide along each of their four respective tracks124, to be able to clamp down objects on the surface of114, for example, but not limited to, a building block for CNC machining, or a mold for die casting, injection molding, or other similar processes whereby a molten “male” material, takes the shape of a boundary “female” void (with a higher melting temperature than the molten material, as not to have the die-like boundary melt in the process). The four swivel arms122on the larger building deck44, in which the reversible deck114resides therein, locks down the reversible building deck114, by rotating inward over114. This is important during injection molding, die-casting, and CNC machining, for stabilizing the object being locked down by the tracked-clamps, but most important to CNC machining, to stop rotational forces and angular momentum from changing the position of the building block, which must not be able to move during the CNC machining process, to maintain the integrity of the shape-changing subtractive process, till the desired shape is achieved.

For the additive configuration, swivel arms122on building deck44are rotated outward and off of plate114to release reversible plate114from being locked down, allowing it to be removed and flipped over. Then arms122may be swiveled back in and over plate114, again locking the reversible plate114to deck44, but this time the clamps120are facing down into deck44, in a form fitted manner, which helps lock down reversible plate114. The result is that the flat surface of plate114(without clamps exposed) is now exposed, allowing for 3D printing on that flat surface. As will be further appreciated, the system is compatible with many secondary processes to enhance the additive and subtractive main processes. Referring toFIG. 6, for example, a plurality of interchangeable tool heads which may be used to provide additional design process may be stored on a rack128. The rack128may include individual unit holders130which may store for example, a 2D/3D scanning head tool, a painting/dying tool head134with container attached for spraying, and other tool head types represented by tool head136.

FIG. 1,FIG. 2, andFIG. 3show an exemplary embodiment of the system's recycling configuration using high refractory materials, like, but not limited to, tungsten or silicon carbide, where typically homogenous meltable recyclable materials30(for example, metal(s), glass, plastic(s), ceramics, asphalt, concrete, minerals, and/or rocks) may be washed and/or collected for recycling, and then fed into the grinder/hopper compartment26(FIG. 3) through the grinder/recycler door14, and under the compression plate118in compartment36(FIG. 1andFIG. 2) through the grinder/recycler door14. The compression plate118may be lowered onto the material30.FIG. 3illustrates where materials30may be received within compartment26.FIG. 4illustrates, once the removable container20is removed as indicated by the arcing upwards motion inFIG. 4, it may be positioned in the removable container support rack38(FIG. 4andFIG. 5A), and coupled with the grain conduit40(FIG. 5A) connected to and/or flowing from support rack38floor/hopper to the mechatronically-controlled feed valve96, feeding MHS42(FIG. 4) funnel66(FIG. 10A).

FIG. 1illustrates that door14may have software-controlled near-coupling magnetic sensors and a safety lock mechanism complex116, which may only allow the axis of the jagged grinder wheels22(FIG. 3), rotated by the grinder motor24(FIG. 2), driven by a dedicated motor driver110(FIG. 2), to operate or rotate when the two mechatronic safety sensors/switches may be within one inch of one another, effectively when door14is down, closed, and locked, and when the grinder is activated using the system's user interface and monitor controlling complex84(FIG. 1). Otherwise, if door14is ajar, the grinder motor24, and dedicated motor driver110, and thus the grinder, may be deactivated, by cutting the power to the motor driver and grinder motor, as a safety feature to typically prevent grinder-related hand and/or other injuries. Similarly, once the grinder22is activated, door14may not be opened until the grinder rotations come to a full stop, at which point the grinder door14may be opened. Once the grinder door14is closed and locked by the coupling sensors and safety lock complex116, and once the grinder motor24is activated at/by the user interface control82, the meltable material30may be ground down into grain32(FIG. 3) by the activated grinder22, in coordination with the grinder/hopper-fitted compression plate118, attached to an ascending and/or descending Y axis docking unit56, about a Y axis threaded/non-threaded shaft54, ascended and/or descended by the rotation of the Y axis shaft54by a Y axis motor52, governed by a dedicated motor driver110attached to the ceiling of compartment36(FIG. 2), connected like all other dedicated motor drivers of the system to a breakout board100, which is powered like all other energy source dependent system parts by an internal and/or external renewable and/or non-renewable energy source.

FIGS. 1 and 4 through 8, detail the positioning of MHS42(FIG. 4), and/or the worker's deck44(and embedded reversible deck114). The MHS42, and/or building deck44, may be mechatronically-controlled by interface82for operation along three or more axes (x,y,z). Alternative embodiments may allow for different combinations of the MHS42and building deck44along these three or more axes. The interface/controller82may be electrically connected to a breakout board100for controlling operation of the following elements. In some embodiments, the MHS42may be coupled to x (58), y (52) and z (46) axes motors and each of their dedicated drivers110controlling movement along a y-axis threaded/unthreaded shaft54using y-axis motor52and an x-axis threaded/unthreaded shaft60using x-axis motor58for movement in two directions. Mechatronically controlled positioning sensors164aand dynamically controlled positioning sensors164bmay provide feedback signals to the interface/controller82. A building deck44(on docking unit(s)50) may be coupled to a z-axis shaft(s)48and z-axis motor(s)46for movement in a third direction. The interface controller82and/or its associated software(s) and/or 3D object design file(s) may coordinate the operation of the drivers110, to move the x (58), y (52) and z (46) axes motors, to change the position of the x (62), y (56), and z (50) docking units, to precisely position the MHS42and/or building deck44in such a coordinated manner as to facilitate the manufacturing of 3D printed, CNC machined, and/or IM designs objects on the smaller reversible building deck114, locked into and embedded into the larger building deck44(FIGS. 9 and 10), based on 3D printing, CNC, and/or IM software(s), design(s), file(s), and/or cast(s) respective specifications.

Referring toFIGS. 5A-10C and 11A-11C, details of the system's MHS42and/or building deck44are described in the context of a 3D printer system, CNC machine, and IM. Pertaining to the function of MHS42in 3D printing, CNC machining, and IM processes, the conduit's40software-controlled opening/closing valve96, may in coordination with the control interface82and temperature sensor70of funnel66, optimally feed grain32from container20, into a side opening of the MHS42funnel66of complex84, onto the mechanical filter92. The filter92which may be fitted and fixed/welded to, and/or designed into the inside of funnel66, to prevent mechanical filter92from spinning when drill bit64may be activated during molten material74extrusion, and where drill bit64fits/penetrates through funnel66and filter92, stopping just short of the semi-sealed spout at the bottom of the funnel66, which may have an aperture of any desired diameter, where a larger aperture diameter may result in faster 3D printing times, and decreased print quality and resolution, and where a smaller aperture diameter may result in the opposite. The funnel lid66amay be combined with the MHS42threaded chamber lid90and funnel66bto form a semi-sealed melting chamber, super-heated by an energy source (a laser in this embodiment)72in collaboration with temperature sensor70, controller/interface82, and its associated software and files, where funnel66bmay be screwed onto lid66aabout the drill bit clamp86, a clamp86which may hold the drill bit64for 3D printing and/or IM additive process molten material extrusion, and/or CNC machining for subtractive processes. In some embodiments, a funnel66(for releasing heated grain32) and/or other components of the system, may be built out of highly refractory and/or temperature-resisting materials, such that funnel66may be adapted to temperatures in the 50-6000+° F. temperature range (depending on the embodiment), when directly and/or indirectly heated by a high energy source (depicted here by a laser72), which may be covered by a secondary (laser) eye safety shield98, a half pipe about laser72, where both shield98, laser70, and temperature sensor70may be connected to docking unit56, and where shield98may further block the direct viewing of the laser72, in addition to shield80on door16, and where safety lock-switch116prevents the system from working if and/or as soon as the door is opened. By employing highly refractory and/or temperature-resistant materials to build funnel66b, lid66a, clamp thread90, drill bit64, drill bit clamp86, and/or any other part of the system, the system may melt most of the most common types of homogenous and/or heterogenous recyclable and meltable garbage and/or other meltable materials (processed into the grain32) into free or inexpensive building materials for the construction and design of 3D objects, for example78(FIG. 8). A temperature sensor70may monitor the temperature of funnel66, in collaboration with drill bit64, motor68, and valve96, so that the grain32may achieve a continuous molten feed source74, which may run through filter92, for drill bit64and funnel66extrusion onto deck114for 3D printing, IM, and/or for making blocks for CNC machining purposes, when configured to do the same, and as specified and/or controlled by controller82and/or associated software and/or files. A fan and/or air conditioner-like cooling system76on the frame10may be used to control or lower the temperature in the system, along with pressurizable air in142A/B and air out148A/B (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Furthermore, because this aforementioned pressurized system can move fluids around the system, another embodiment allows water and/or air from140and/or146to reach the building chamber to control humidity, which like temperature needs to be controlled during the building process and which differs in different environments, requiring an adaptive system to control the same. Such an embodiment would make use of existing thermal sensors129/camera138, and/or additional humidity and/or positioning sensors, to determine the humidity, along with82. Another embodiment employs a monitor162on such a system for the purpose of the AI having an additional interaction tool, and/or for branding/marketing purposes. An alternative embodiment not shown allows82to communicate with social media accounts, memory drives, online and cloud databases and communities, to load, download, upload, trade, transfer, collaborate, and/or donate products, materials, and designs, using this invention, and/or associated social media accounts. As will be appreciated, grain container20may be used in manufacturing in a manual or automated manner, depending on the embodiment. As will be appreciated, the user no longer has to purchase expensive filament but may instead use common recyclable material to create many functional articles of manufacture.

Referring now toFIGS. 12-13, a schematic connection of the system is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Box1A represents the means for proximal or direct, primary input received by the system. These means may include input received by proximity sensors, audio sensors, voice commands, and touch based detection of buttons, screens, etc.

Box1B represents means for remote or indirect, secondary input received by the system. These inputs include receiving wireless signals by the controller and/or AI element.

Box2represents bringing the system into an operational state including in some embodiments, awakening the system from a hibernation state in response to received input (for example, as received by an input of Box1A or1B).

Box3A represents an embodiment of the system which includes an AI guided process for the user to produce an object by the additive and/or subtractive processes of the system. The AI may provide step by step instructions for the user with prompts of what button or feature should be controlled to produce a desired object. The user may provide the system with a description of the object including characteristics such as shape, color, size, and material density, which the AI uses to determine the path needed to achieve the object.

Box3B represents a system driven process of providing more detailed instructions to the user to complete the object.

Box4represents a detailed number of actions taken by the system as the user engages with the system under the guidance of boxes3A and/or3B.

FIGS. 14-15show a process for producing an object using the system according to an exemplary embodiment. In the first step, renewable, rechargeable, recaptured, and/or nonrenewable/standard energy sources may be stored and used by the system.

Next, a direct or indirect input by the user triggers the system into an on state, which in some embodiments awakens the system from hibernation.

Next, the user may provide inputs for the system to use to further guide the user toward a desired object output.

Next, the user provides the system with a scan of the object. The system may offer the user with an option to load an image file, download or upload a design file, or scan the object into the system, to generate a model for the system to build. The system AI may provide text, LED blinking, lighting, and/or verbal/audio cues to the user so that the user may input further commands to the tools in the system to build the object.

Newly made files to produce an object(s) may be stored in the system (or stored to a remote account). The system may ask the user whether or not to use the newly made file. In response to an affirmative answer by the user, the system loads the file for use in recycling manufacturing. The system may prompt the user to input object characteristics such as color, material, density, and size. The system may extrapolate remaining dimensions that are not provided by the user.

The system may prompt the user for which process to begin (for example, additive, subtractive, coloring, etc.). The system may prompt the user to select the type of recyclable material to use including generating new grain from raw unrecycled material or using stored recycled material grain. The system may check for the safety door to be in a locked, secure position grinding recycled material into grain. The system may, according to the object file, selected manufacturing process, and meltable grain material, produce the desired object.

Other system tools such as the paint gun may be used to color the object as requested by the user specifications. A 3D/2D scanning tool head132(FIG. 6) may be used to make 3D copies of objects, which can then be altered, left alone, and/or made, when legal.

The system may ask the user to define parameters like density, color, material type, and longest length for a particular manufacturing file, and proportionately calculate based on a single design file dimension, the longest dimension, all of the other dimensions of the file, to scale the size of made objects up and down.

The system may also verbally ask the user for keywords, which the system looks up online, trying to find keywords associated with manufacturing file extensions or suffixes, to be able to load over 700,000 open source product design files onto the system, and/or to direct the user where and how to do the same.

During manufacturing, secondary processes may occur simultaneously. Once the object is ready and safe to handle, the system provides the user a message indicating the process is over.