US 12,220,873 B2
Modular system and method for a three dimensional printing device
Ali Aslam, Upton, MA (US); and Matthew Gesner, Upton, MA (US)
Assigned to BD Engineering LLC, Upton, MA (US)
Filed by BD Engineering LLC, Upton, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/074,601.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/265,007, filed on Dec. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173762 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 64/336 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/393 (2017.08) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 64/336 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a base station having a housing with an inlet and an outlet;
a Bowden style mechanism coupled to the housing upstream of the inlet, the Bowden style mechanism having a motor operably coupled to a filament engagement mechanism;
a filament holder having filament disposed thereon, the filament holder being coupled to the housing downstream to the Bowden style mechanism, and arranged to transfer the filament to the Bowden style mechanism;
a three-dimensional drawing device separate from the base station and downstream from the outlet, and sized to be held by a single user, the drawing device defining a pathway that receives filament from the outlet and transfers the filament to a heated section, the drawing device having a nozzle removably coupled to the heated section to receive the filament, and the drawing device further having at least one actuator; and
a controller having a processor, the controller being coupled to communicate with the motor, the heated section and the at least one actuator, the processor being responsive to executable computer instructions in response to an actuation of the at least one actuator for causing the motor to rotate in a first direction to move the filament through the inlet and outlet to the drawing device and to cause the heated section to at least partially melt the filament moving through the drawing device.