US 11,702,312 B2
Series enabled multi-material extrusion technology
Mitchell Oliver Debora, Thornhill (CA); Daniel Lloyd, Calgary (CA); and Derek Alan Vogt, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to MOSAIC MANUFACTURING LTD., Toronto (CA)
Filed by Mosaic Manufacturing Ltd., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/100,576.
Application 17/100,576 is a division of application No. 14/831,396, filed on Aug. 20, 2015, granted, now 10,870,268.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/147,393, filed on Apr. 14, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/040,045, filed on Aug. 21, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0070031 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. B65H 57/12 (2006.01); B22F 10/18 (2021.01); B22F 12/57 (2021.01); B22F 12/58 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/336 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01); B65H 57/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 57/12 (2013.01) [B22F 10/18 (2021.01); B22F 12/57 (2021.01); B22F 12/58 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/336 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01); B65H 57/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of automatically forming and feeding a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer, the method comprising, under processor control concurrent with and in cooperation with control of a printer tool path:
at a multicomponent feedstock source coupled to but spaced from the print head by a feedstock feed path:
automatically positioning a portion of a first feedstock along the feed path, wherein positioning the portion of the first feedstock includes feeding a distal end of the first feedstock along the feed path toward the print head, and cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the first feedstock having a proximal end and the distal end;
automatically positioning a portion of a second feedstock along the feed path and in line with the portion of the first feedstock, the portions of feedstock being aligned in series to form the multicomponent feedstock; and
feeding the multicomponent feedstock along the feed path to the print head, and
tracking an amount of the multicomponent feedstock as it is fed into the print head with a feedstock monitoring device mounted adjacent to a feedstock pathway into the print head;
wherein the cooperation comprises adjusting a production rate of the multicomponent feedstock in response to the amount of the multicomponent feedstock fed into the print head.