US 12,330,211 B2
Multi-diameter wire feeder
Scott Kilcoyne, Cambridge, MA (US); Mateo Pena Doll, Burlington, MA (US); and Salvador Barriga, Burlington, MA (US)
Assigned to Relativity Space, Inc., Long Beach, CA (US)
Filed by Relativity Space, Inc., Long Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/098,564.
Application 17/098,564 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/038052, filed on Jun. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/687,651, filed on Jun. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0138538 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. B22D 23/00 (2006.01); B23K 35/00 (2006.01); B23K 35/02 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B22D 23/003 (2013.01) [B23K 35/0205 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B23K 35/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
a wire source configured to hold a wire usable for said printing said 3D object;
a print head comprising a guide configured to direct said wire towards and in contact with a support or at least a portion of said 3D object adjacent to said support;
a driver roller comprising a groove that is configured to (i) accept at least a portion of said wire and (ii) direct said at least said portion of said wire towards said guide;
wherein said groove has a concave shape comprising at least two sides having a radius of curvature, wherein said radius of curvature deviates from a radius of curvature of said wire by at most 50%,
wherein said concave shape of said groove comprises a width and a depth wherein said width is different than said depth,
wherein said concave shape comprises a vertex section between said at least two sides of said concave shape,
wherein said groove further comprises an opening comprising at least two walls adjacent to said at least two sides of said concave shape;
a power source in electrical communication with said wire and said support, wherein said power source is configured to supply electrical current from said guide through said wire and to said support, or vice versa, to melt said wire when said wire is in contact with said support or said at least said portion of said 3D object during said printing of said 3D object; and
a controller in communication with said power source, wherein said controller is configured to direct said power source to supply said electrical current from said guide through said wire and to said support, or vice versa.