US 12,304,139 B1
Near net shape additive manufacturing system
Kenneth J. Susnjara, Birdseye, IN (US); Brian S. Smiddy, Newburgh, IN (US); and John Fuquay, Boonville, IN (US)
Assigned to Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed by Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/029,030.
Application 19/029,030 is a continuation of application No. 18/813,399, filed on Aug. 23, 2024.
Application 18/813,399 is a continuation of application No. 18/618,324, filed on Mar. 27, 2024, granted, now 12,103,224, issued on Oct. 1, 2024.
Application 18/618,324 is a continuation of application No. 18/188,034, filed on Mar. 22, 2023, granted, now 11,969,936, issued on Apr. 30, 2024.
Application 18/188,034 is a continuation of application No. 17/653,531, filed on Mar. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,628,614, issued on Apr. 18, 2023.
Application 17/653,531 is a continuation of application No. 17/402,820, filed on Aug. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,298,873, issued on Apr. 12, 2022.
Application 17/402,820 is a continuation of application No. 17/021,730, filed on Sep. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,117,313, issued on Sep. 14, 2021.
Application 17/021,730 is a continuation of application No. 16/692,825, filed on Nov. 22, 2019, granted, now 10,786,944, issued on Sep. 29, 2020.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/218 (2017.01); B29C 64/236 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B29C 64/30 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/218 (2017.08); B29C 64/236 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B29C 64/30 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B29C 2793/009 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a gantry disposed, via at least one support, above a horizontal surface;
a print head connected to the gantry, wherein the print head is configured, in operation, to output a molten material;
a trim head connected to the gantry, wherein the trim head is configured, in operation, to remove a portion of bead material, wherein the molten material, once cooled, is the bead material;
a print nozzle which is: (i) configured to, in operation, receive the molten material and (ii) configurable to deposit the molten material on a worktable while positioned (a) at a first angle which is perpendicular to the horizontal surface and/or (b) at a second angle which is different from the first angle; and
a support member connected to the print head, the print nozzle, and the trim head wherein, in operation, the print head, the print nozzle, and the trim head move along the gantry together as a unit.
 
11. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a gantry disposed, via at least one vertically-extending support, above a horizontal surface;
an extruder connected to the gantry, the extruder being configured to receive material and to heat the material;
a print head connected to the gantry, wherein the print head is configured, in operation, to output a bead of the material;
a trim head connected to the gantry, wherein the trim head is configured, in operation, to remove a portion of the bead of material once the bead of material has cooled;
a print nozzle which is: (i) configured to, in operation, receive the material and (ii) configurable to deposit the material while being positioned at a first orientation which is perpendicular to the horizontal surface and configurable to deposit the material while being positioned at a second orientation which is different from the first orientation; and
a support member connected to the print head and to the trim head wherein, in operation, the extruder, the print head, the print nozzle, and the trim head move along the gantry together as a unit.
 
17. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a gantry disposed, via at least one vertically-extending support, above a horizontal surface;
an extruder supported with the gantry, the extruder being configured to receive material and to heat the material;
a print head supported with the gantry, wherein the print head is configured, in operation, to output a bead of the material;
a print nozzle which is: (i) configured to, in operation, receive the material and (ii) configurable to deposit the material while being positioned at a first angle which is perpendicular to the horizontal surface and that is configurable to deposit the material while being positioned at a second angle which is different from the first angle; and
a support member connected to the print head wherein the support member is configurable to be connected to a trim head supported with the gantry, in operation, the extruder, the print head, the print nozzle, and the trim head move along the gantry together as a unit.