IP Library Granted Patent US 11,376,789
Granted Patent B2
US 11,376,789 · App. 16/614,600 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

Three dimensional printer apparatus

Inventors: Charles Brandon Sweeney (Pflugerville, TX); Travis Eubanks (San Antonio, TX); Alex Stockton (Pflugerville, TX); Blake Teipel (Pflugerville, TX)
Assignee: Essentium, Inc.
B29C64/209H05B6/14B33Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,376,789
App. No.
16/614,600
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

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

Claims (32)

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

a controller having a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer having a print head, a part carrier, and a plasma field applicator, the print head including a print head nozzle, and wherein the plasma field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head, the print head nozzle is grounded, the controller is in communication with the print head, part carrier, and plasma field applicator, and the three-dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the part carrier; and

wherein the signal generator outputs a signal to the plasma field applicator and the plasma field applicator generates an electromagnetic field and induced current pathway incident to the three-dimensional object on the part carrier;

wherein the plasma field applicator comprises a voltage electrode and a dielectric insulator, and the voltage electrode is encapsulated by the dielectric insulator;

wherein the dielectric insulator is a single-piece body comprising a disc with an outer annular surface that faces radially outward in a direction away from the electrode.

2. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal to the plasma field applicator comprises a potential electromagnetic signal.

3. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the potential electromagnetic signal comprises an alternating current signal having a frequency between approximately 10 kHz and 100 kHz.

4. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 2 wherein the potential electromagnetic signal comprises one of a continuous wave signal, a square wave signal, a triangle wave signal, a short duration pulse signal, and a rectified signal.

5. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the voltage electrode of the plasma field applicator is connected to the signal generator and the part carrier is grounded.

6. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plasma field applicator has a disc-like shape.

7. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print head is a pass through continuous feed stock print head nozzle.

8. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print head is a screw-type extrusion print head nozzle.

9. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print head includes a powder compaction roller.

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

a controller having a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer having a print head, a part carrier, and a plasma field applicator, the print head including a print head nozzle, and wherein the plasma field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head, the print head nozzle is grounded, the controller is in communication with the print head, part carrier, and plasma field applicator, the plasma field applicator has a disc-like shape, and the three-dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the part carrier; and

wherein the signal generator outputs a potential electromagnetic signal to the plasma field applicator and the plasma field applicator generates an electromagnetic field and induced current pathway incident to the three-dimensional object on the part carrier;

wherein the plasma field applicator comprises a voltage electrode and a dielectric insulator, and the voltage electrode is encapsulated by the dielectric insulator;

wherein the dielectric insulator is a single-piece body comprising a disc with an outer annular surface that faces radially outward in a direction away from the electrode.

11. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the potential electromagnetic signal comprises an alternating current signal having a frequency between approximately 10 kHz and 100 kHz.

12. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the potential electromagnetic signal comprises one of a continuous wave signal, a square wave signal, a triangle wave signal, a short duration pulse signal, and a rectified signal.

13. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the voltage electrode of the plasma field applicator is connected to the signal generator and the part carrier is grounded.

14. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the print head is a pass through continuous feed stock print head nozzle or a screw-type extrusion print head nozzle.

15. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the print head includes a powder compaction roller.

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

a controller having a signal generator;

a three-dimensional printer having a print head, a part carrier, and a plasma field applicator, and wherein the plasma field applicator is disposed on an end of the print head, the controller is in communication with the print head, part carrier, and plasma field applicator, the plasma field applicator has a disc-like shape, the three-dimensional printer builds the three-dimensional object onto the part carrier, and the print head includes a print head nozzle that is a pass through continuous feed stock print head nozzle or a screw-type extrusion print head nozzle; and

wherein the signal generator outputs a potential electromagnetic signal having a frequency between approximately 10 kHz and 100 kHz to the plasma field applicator and the plasma field applicator generates an electromagnetic field and induced current pathway incident to the three-dimensional object on the part carrier;

wherein the plasma field applicator comprises a voltage electrode and a dielectric insulator, and the voltage electrode is encapsulated by the dielectric insulator;

wherein the dielectric insulator is a single-piece body comprising a disk with an outer annular surface that faces radially outward in a direction away from the electrode.

17. The three-dimensional printing apparatus of claim 16 wherein the potential electromagnetic signal comprises one of an alternating current signal, a continuous wave signal, a square wave signal, a triangle wave signal, a short duration pulse signal, and a rectified signal.

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; STOCKTON, ALEX; TEIPEL, BLAKE
To: ESSENTIUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 053717/0840 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62508464 · May 19, 2017
Related Publication 20200070416A1 · Mar 5, 2020