Minimal contact slide for touch indication
View Patent ↗A nozzle holder assembly for a three-dimensional printer comprises a mount, a printer nozzle, and a locking mechanism. The mount is operable to be secured to the three-dimensional printer. The printer nozzle shaft is movably coupled to the mount along a predetermined length. The locking mechanism is configured to fix the printer nozzle shaft relative to the mount at any position along the predetermined length.
1 . A nozzle holder assembly for a three-dimensional printer, the nozzle holder assembly comprising:
a mount operable to be secured to the three-dimensional printer;
a printer nozzle shaft movably coupled to the mount and operable to shift relative to the mount along a predetermined length, the printer nozzle shaft including an elongated groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the printer nozzle shaft; and
a locking mechanism with a protruding portion and an actuator configured to actuate the protruding portion such that the protruding portion engages the printer nozzle shaft in the elongated groove to fix the printer nozzle shaft relative to the mount at any position along the predetermined length.
2 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect movement between the printer nozzle shaft and the mount.
3 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to emit a signal representative of movement between the printer nozzle shaft and the mount.
4 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft holder operatively associated with the mount, wherein the printer nozzle shaft is movably coupled to the mount via the shaft holder.
5 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 4 , wherein the shaft holder is shiftable relative to the mount.
6 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 4 , wherein the shaft holder defines a channel through which the printer nozzle shaft extends.
7 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 6 , wherein the channel is a first channel, and the shaft holder includes a bearing extending into the first channel and defining a second channel through which the shaft extends.
8 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion comprises a locking pin.
9 . The nozzle holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a fastener.
10 . A three-dimensional printer for printing a plurality of parts, the printer comprising:
a build platform for supporting the plurality of parts;
a frame shiftable above the build platform; and
a plurality of nozzle assemblies attached to the frame, each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies comprising:
a mount operable to couple to the frame,
a printer nozzle shaft movably coupled to the mount along a predetermined length and including an elongated groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the printer nozzle shaft, and
a locking mechanism with a protruding portion and an actuator configured to actuate the protruding portion such that the protruding portion engages the printer nozzle shaft in the elongated groove to fix the printer nozzle shaft relative to the mount at any position along the predetermined length.
11 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies comprises a sensor configured to detect movement between the printer nozzle shaft and the mount.
12 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the sensor of each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is configured to emit a signal representative of movement between the printer nozzle shaft and the mount.
13 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies comprise:
a shaft holder operatively associated with the mount,
wherein the printer nozzle shaft is movably coupled to the mount via the shaft holder.
14 . The three-dimensional printer of claim 13 , wherein the shaft holder of each of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is shiftable relative to the mount.
15 . A nozzle holder assembly for a three-dimensional printer, the nozzle holder assembly comprising:
a mount operable to be secured to the three-dimensional printer;
a printer nozzle shaft movably coupled to the mount and operable to shift relative to the mount along a predetermined length, the printer nozzle shaft including an elongated groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the printer nozzle shaft; and
a locking mechanism with a protruding portion operable to shift to engage the printer nozzle shaft in the elongated groove so as to fix the printer nozzle shaft relative to the mount at any position along the predetermined length.