Near net shape additive manufacturing apparatus
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
a first vertically-extending support leg;
a second vertically-extending support leg;
a gantry supported on the first and second support legs;
a work table supported beneath the gantry;
a print head supported on the gantry;
a trim head supported on the gantry, the trim head configured to trim material deposited with the print head; and
a nozzle connected to the print head, the nozzle being configured to extend at an angle from a vertical direction when depositing material.
2. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work table includes a horizontally-movable surface.
3. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the print head is supported on a rail that extends horizontally along the gantry.
4. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the print head is supported on a carrier that is movable in a horizontal direction along the rail.
5. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein an extruder is connected to the carrier.
6. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 4 , further including an angled joint that transitions the carrier to the nozzle.
7. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the angled joint is located below a bottom end of the carrier.
8. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the angled joint forms an angle of approximately 90° between the carrier and the nozzle.
9. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , further including a vertically-extending carrier and a vertically-extending rail, the print head and the nozzle being movable with the carrier in a vertical direction along the vertically-extending rail.
10. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
a first support;
a second support;
a gantry fixed to upper ends of the first and second supports;
a work surface supported beneath the gantry;
a print head that is movable under the gantry;
a trim head that is movable under the gantry;
a nozzle connected to the print head;
a vertically-extending carrier supporting the print head with the gantry; and
a transition joint extending below the carrier, the transition joint orienting the nozzle at an angle with respect to a vertical direction.
11. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , further including a rail, the carrier being movable in a horizontal direction along the rail.
12. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , further including an extruder and a gear pump connected to the carrier.
13. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transition joint defines an angle of approximately 90° between the carrier and the nozzle.
14. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the work surface is formed on a vertically-extending worktable.
15. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , further including an extruder, the nozzle being connected below the extruder.
16. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , further including a vertically-extending rail, the print head being movable with the carrier along the rail.
17. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
a vertically-extending support;
a support structure fixed to the vertically-extending support;
a horizontally-extending bed;
an applicator head connected to the support structure and including a nozzle configured to deposit material while extending at an angle with respect to a vertical direction, the applicator head being movable along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis when supported by the support structure and while depositing the material; and
a carrier for a trim head, the carrier being movable along an x-axis, a y-axis, and z-axis when supported by the support structure and while trimming the material.
18. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 17 , further including an extruder connected above the applicator head and above the nozzle.
19. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 18 , further including a vertically-extending carrier supporting the extruder, the applicator head, and the nozzle.
20. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 19 , further including a vertically-extending rail, the extruder being mounted to the carrier in a linearly movable manner on the vertically-extending rail.