Three-dimensional (3D) printer having a variously configurable printing platform assembly
A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a platform assembly on which a 3D object can be built, an extruder, a filament feeding assembly feeding a filament to the extruder, a movable nozzle receiving heated filament from the extruder in a flowable form and directing the flowable filament material on the platform assembly to create the 3D object, and a controlling circuit for controlling an operation of the 3D printer. The platform assembly may include first and second plates separated from one another, a plurality of elongated structures connecting the first and second plates to one another, and a plurality of post assemblies disposed between the first and second plates. The post assemblies may include posts that can be selectively raised and lowered to protrude over the plate, from among the first and second plates, on which the 3D object will be built to assist with the building process.
1 . A platform assembly for a three-dimensional (3D) printer, comprising:
a first platform assembly plate;
a second platform assembly plate separated from the first platform assembly plate, wherein the second platform assembly plate defines a build surface of the 3D printer;
a plurality of elongated structures extending between the first and second platform assembly plates and connecting the first and second platform assembly plates to one another; and
a plurality of post assemblies disposed between the first and second platform assembly plates,
wherein each one of the post assemblies includes at least one elongated post,
wherein the second platform assembly plate includes a plurality of through openings, each through opening of the plurality of through openings being configured to accommodate therethrough a respective one of the at least one elongated post of each post assembly of the plurality of post assemblies; and
wherein each one of the post assemblies can be selectively operated to cause its respective at least one elongated post to extend through its respective through opening in the second platform assembly plate by a certain length,
wherein a first post assembly of the plurality of post assemblies includes:
said at least one elongated post;
a threaded rod, wherein an entire length of the threaded rod extends between the first and second platform assembly plates; and
a post assembly plate fixedly coupled to said at least one elongated post and threadably rotatably coupled to the threaded rod,
wherein a rotation of the threaded rod is configured to cause the post assembly plate to be moved between the first and second platform assembly plates and to cause the at least one elongated post of the first post assembly to extend through its respective through opening in the second platform assembly plate,
wherein the least one elongated post of the first post assembly includes a plurality of elongated posts, and
wherein the threaded rod of the first post assembly is arranged between the plurality of elongated posts.
2 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first post assembly further includes:
a motor electrically connected to a controlling circuit and structurally connected to the threaded rod, the motor being configured to rotate the threaded rod bi-directionally based on a command of the controlling circuit.
3 . The platform assembly of claim 2 , wherein the post assembly plate of the first post assembly is slidably connected to a first elongated structure of the plurality of elongated structures such that said post assembly plate can be slid along a length of the first elongated structure,
wherein the slidable connection between the post assembly plate of the first post assembly and the first elongated structure is configured to prevent said post assembly plate from rotating when the threaded rod of the first post assembly is being rotated, and
wherein the threaded connection between the post assembly plate of the first post assembly and the threaded rod of the first post assembly plate is configured to cause said post assembly plate to be moved toward the first platform assembly plate or toward the second platform assembly plate, depending on a rotation direction of said threaded rod.
4 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of post assemblies is arranged in rows and columns.
5 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of post assemblies is arranged in a staggered formation.
6 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated structures is arranged in rows and columns.
7 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated structures is arranged in a staggered formation.
8 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated post of a first one of the post assemblies has a round bar shape.
9 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated post of a first one of the post assemblies has a flat bar shape.
10 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the threaded rod is rotatably coupled to the second platform assembly plate.
11 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first post assembly further includes a first bearing rotatably connecting an upper end of the threaded rod to the second post assembly plate.
12 . The platform assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first post assembly plate further includes a second bearing rotatably connecting a lower end of the threaded rod to the first post assembly plate.
13 . The platform assembly of claim 2 , wherein the motor is disposed closer to the first platform assembly plate than to the second platform assembly plate, and
wherein the first post assembly further includes a ring attached to the motor, the ring being configured to prevent the post assembly plate from traveling along a length of the threaded rod beyond a location of the ring when said post assembly plate is moved in a direction toward the first platform assembly plate.
14 . The platform assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated post of the first post assembly is configured to be selectively moved between:
a retracted state, in which an entire length of said at least one elongated post extends between the first platform assembly plate and an outer side surface of the second platform assembly plate that defines the build surface of the 3D printer, such that the at least one elongated post does not protrude from said outer side surface of the second platform assembly plate when arranged in the retracted state; and
an extended state, in which the at least one elongated post of the first post assembly extends through its respective opening in the second platform assembly plate, thereby protruding from the outer side surface of the second platform assembly plate by said certain length.