IP Library Granted Patent US 11,325,303
Granted Patent B2
US 11,325,303 · App. 16/467,693 · Granted May 10, 2022

Three dimensional printer apparatus

Inventors: Charles Brandon Sweeney (Pflugerville, TX); Blake Teipel (Pflugerville, TX); Travis Eubanks (San Antonio, TX); John Stockton (Austin, TX); Alexander Stockton (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Essentium, Inc.
B29C64/209B29C64/118B33Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,325,303
App. No.
16/467,693
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A three-dimensional printing apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object includes a controller comprising a signal generator and a three-dimensional printer. The three-dimensional printer includes a print head, a three-dimensional object carrier, and an electrical field applicator. The electrical field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head. The controller is in communication with the print head, part carrier, and electrical field applicator. The three dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the three-dimensional object carrier. The signal generator outputs a signal to the electrical field applicator and the electrical field applicator generates an electrical field incident to the three-dimensional object on three-dimensional object carrier.

Claims (30)

1. A three-dimensional printing apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:

a controller comprising a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer comprising a print head, a three-dimensional object carrier, and an electrical field applicator, and wherein the electrical field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head and the electrical field applicator is in the form of a plate including at least one electrode embedded in the plate, the controller is in communication with the print head, the three-dimensional object carrier, and the electrical field applicator, and the three dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the three-dimensional object carrier; and

wherein the signal generator outputs a signal to the electrical field applicator and the electrical field applicator generates an electrical field configured to be incident to the three-dimensional object on the three-dimensional object carrier;

wherein the electrical field applicator is configured to operate in an electrically small mode.

2. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal is configured to penetrate the three-dimensional object.

3. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal comprises an RF signal having a frequency of less than approximately 915 MHz.

4. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first and a second plurality of electrodes embedded in the plate, each electrode of the first plurality of electrodes alternates with each of the electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

5. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first plurality of electrodes of the electrical field applicator are connected to the signal generator and the second plurality of electrodes are grounded.

6. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electrical field applicator is a disc and the first plurality of electrodes is concentric with the second plurality of electrodes.

7. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electrical field applicator is an elongated plate, the first plurality of electrodes is connected to a first bus bar strip, the second plurality of electrodes is connected to a second bus bar strip, the first bus bar strip is connected to the signal generator, and the second bus bar strip is connected to the ground.

8. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional object carrier is electrically grounded.

9. A three-dimensional printing apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional part, the apparatus comprising:

a controller comprising a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer having a print head, and wherein the three-dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional part onto a part carrier and the part carrier is electrically grounded;

an electrical field applicator apparatus comprising an electrical field applicator, and

wherein the signal generator outputs a signal to the electrical field applicator and the electrical field applicator generates an electrical field incident to the three-dimensional part on the part carrier and wherein the electrical field applicator is supported by a linear stage configured to scan over the part carrier;

wherein the electrical field applicator is configured to operate in an electrically small mode.

10. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the RF signal is configured to penetrate the three-dimensional part.

11. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the electrical field applicator comprises a first and a second plurality of electrodes embedded in the electrical field applicator, wherein the electrical field applicator is in the form of a plate, each electrode of the first plurality of electrodes alternates with each of the electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

12. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of electrodes of the electrical field applicator are connected to the signal generator and the second plurality of electrodes are grounded.

13. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 12 wherein the electrical field applicator is a disc and the first plurality of electrodes is concentric with the second plurality of electrodes.

14. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the electrical field applicator is an elongated plate, the first plurality of electrodes is connected to a first bus bar strip, the second plurality of electrodes is connected to a second bus bar strip, the first bus bar strip is connected to the signal generator, and the second bus bar strip is connected to the ground.

15. A three-dimensional printing apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:

a controller comprising a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer comprising a print head, a three-dimensional object carrier, and an electrical field applicator, and wherein the electrical field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head and the electrical field applicator is in the form of a plate including at least one electrode embedded in the plate, the controller is in communication with the print head, the three-dimensional object carrier, and the electrical field applicator, and the three dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the three-dimensional object carrier; and

wherein the signal generator outputs a signal to the electrical field applicator, the three-dimensional object carrier is electrically grounded, and the electrical field applicator generates an electrical field from the electrical field applicator to the three-dimensional object carrier incident to the three-dimensional object on the three-dimensional object carrier;

wherein the electrical field applicator is configured to operate in an electrically small mode.

16. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the signal is configured to penetrate the three-dimensional object.

17. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 16 wherein the electrical field applicator is a disc and is a first electrode and the three-dimensional object carrier is a second electrode.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2025
From: NEXA3D INC.; NXT FACTORY, INC.
To: STRATASYS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071657/0111 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY
To: NEXA3D INC.; NXT FACTORY INC.; NEXA3D APS
Reel/Frame 071534/0581 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2024
From: NEXA3D INC.; NXT FACTORY INC.; NEXA3D APS
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069381/0694 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ESSENTIUM, INC.; ESSENTIUM IPHOLDCO, LLC; ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 066339/0087 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC.
To: NEXA3D INC.
Reel/Frame 066339/0185 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2022
From: ESSENTIUM, INC.
To: ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 061950/0803 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ESSENTIUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 060682/0613 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: ESSENTIUM, INC.; ESSENTIUM IPHOLDCO, LLC; ESSENTIUM IPCO, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060445/0808 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2021
From: ESSENTIUM, INC.
To: QSHGP, INC.
Reel/Frame 057545/0005 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2020
From: ESSENTIUM, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 054198/0663 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2020
From: SWEENEY, CHARLES BRANDON; TEIPEL, BLAKE; STOCKTON, JOHN; STOCKTON, ALEX
To: ESSENTIUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 053717/0779 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62416890 · Nov 3, 2016
Related Publication 20190344502A1 · Nov 14, 2019