Patent ID: 11577457

Abstract:
Methods and systems for 3D printing use a 3D printing device defined by a polar coordinate frame including an r-axis, a z-axis, and a rotational theta axis. The device includes a base, a rotatably attached printing stage is rotatably attached, a z-axis aligned pair of towers, an r-axis aligned rail slidably coupled to the towers, a print head slidably disposed on the rail, a printing tool coupling component (“master”) joined to the print head, and a rotatable tool carousel with bays housing printing tools, each including a printing tool body (“slave”). The slave may be coupled with and locked to or unlocked from the master to form a coupled tool assembly through a mechanical actuation assembly. With the coupled tool assembly, a printing tool is removable from a respective bay when the coupled tool assembly moves along the r-axis in a direction opposite from the rotatable tool carousel.