US 11,904,542 B2
Platen with grid assembly for 3D printing
Jeff Lee Chapman, New Prague, MN (US); Robert Skubic, Chanhassen, MN (US); Bryan Migliori, Lakeville, MN (US); Benjamin L Braton, Otsego, MN (US); Patrick W. Anderson, Saint Louis Park, MN (US); Josh Durand, Shakopee, MN (US); and Colin Schiel, Chaska, MN (US)
Assigned to Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/112,534.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/047,061, filed on Jul. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0001613 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/232 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01)
CPC B29C 64/245 (2017.08) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/232 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A 3D printer comprising:
a heated build chamber comprising opposing side walls, each opposing side wall having a plurality of spaced apart slots; and
a platen assembly within the chamber, the platen assembly comprising:
a grid assembly comprising at least six independent beams forming at least a 4 ×2 framework of interlocked perpendicular x direction beams and y direction beams, providing a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the grid assembly comprises:
an interior grid comprising at least two x direction beams interconnected with at least two y direction beams; and
an exterior frame comprising exterior beams that at least partially surrounding the interior, wherein the exterior frame surrounds the interior grid; and
a platen comprising a metal sheet supported on the upper surface of the grid assembly and secured to the grid assembly such that the upper surface provides a substantially flat build surface;
wherein the x direction beams, the y direction beams and the platen are constructed of substantially a same material having substantially a-same thermal expansion properties; and
wherein the build surface of the platen has a build surface area of at least 400 square inches and maintains its flatness to within a flatness tolerance of 0.020 inches over a temperature range of at least 20C-300C.