Three-dimensional (3D) printer
A 3D printer includes a build plate, a carriage movable alongside edges of the build plate between a front and rear of the build plate, and an arch connected to the carriage and movable therewith. The arch includes a pair of legs and an upper cross bar. A cross support is connected to the arch and extends between the legs and is movable between opposite ends of the legs. A tool head is connected to the cross support and is moveable along the cross support from one of the legs to the other. The interconnection of the legs to the carriage permits the arch to pivot between a printer operational condition in which the legs of the arch extend upright relative to the build plate and a collapsed condition in which the legs of the arch extend along the side edges of the build plate.
1. A three dimensional (3D) printer, comprising:
a build plate having a front, a rear, opposite side edges, and an upper surface providing a platform for supporting printed material, said build plate being mounted on a base frame having rails extending along and adjacent each of said side edges of said build plate;
a first carriage and a second carriage movable along said side edges of said build plate between said front and rear of said build plate, said first carriage being mounted on said rails of said base frame extending along one of said side edges of said build plate and said second carriage being mounted on said rails of said base frame extending along an opposite one of said side edges of said build plate;
an arch connected to said first and second carriages and movable therewith, said arch including a pair of legs and an upper cross bar, one of said legs of said arch being connected to said first carriage and an opposite one of said legs of said arch being connected to said second carriage;
a cross support connected to said arch and extending between said legs and being movable between opposite ends of each of said legs; and
a tool head connected to said cross support and being moveable along said cross support from one of said legs to the other of said legs, said tool head including a nozzle for extruding printable material;
wherein an interconnection of said legs to said first and second carriages permits said arch to pivot between a printer operational condition in which said legs of said arch extend upright relative to said build plate and a collapsed condition in which said legs of said arch extend along said side edges of said build plate;
wherein said interconnection of legs of said arch to said first and second carriages is via hinges permitting said arch to pivot relative to said carriages;
wherein, in said collapsed condition of said arch, said legs of said arch rest on said base frame and extend substantially parallel to said side edges of said build plate;
wherein each of said legs of said arch include rails, wherein said cross support interconnects to each of said rails of said legs, and wherein, when said arch is in said printer operational condition, said cross support is movable along said rails of said legs from adjacent said build plate to an elevation above and spaced from said upper surface of said build plate; and
wherein said cross support includes a rail and wherein said tool head interconnects to said rail of said cross support and is moveable along said rail of said cross support.
2. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 1 , wherein said tool head is connected to a supply of printable material.
3. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 2 , wherein the printable material is selected from the group consisting of liquid plastic, paste, hot glue, concrete, food product, chocolate, rubber, elastomeric material, nylon, electrically conductive resin, metal, and epoxy resin.
4. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 1 , wherein movement of said first and second carriages relative to said side edges of said build plate, movement of said cross support along the legs of said arch, and movement of said tool head along said cross support is computer controlled to position said tool head at desired positions relative to said build plate.
5. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 1 , wherein each of said front and rear of said base frame includes a least one handle.
6. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 5 , wherein said base frame includes a set of wheels for supporting said base frame on an underlying surface.
7. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of a height, length and width of a printable area provided by the printer on the build plate is at least 1,000 mm (39.4 inches).
8. The three dimensional (3D) printer according to claim 1 , wherein said hinges permit said arch to pivot in a forward direction toward said front of said build plate and in an opposite direction toward said rear of said build plate.