US 12,011,877 B2
Apparatus and method for printing large thermoplastic parts during additive manufacturing
Kenneth J. Susnjara, Birdseye, IN (US); Scott G. Vaal, Jasper, IN (US); Brian S. Smiddy, Newburgh, IN (US); and Jonathan I. Fuquay, Boonville, IN (US)
Assigned to Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed by Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/452,436.
Application 17/452,436 is a continuation of application No. 17/160,074, filed on Jan. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,179,893.
Application 17/160,074 is a continuation of application No. 15/703,558, filed on Sep. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,933,586, issued on Mar. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0040922 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/285 (2019.01); B29C 64/106 (2017.01); B29C 64/205 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/218 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B29C 64/232 (2017.01); B29C 64/236 (2017.01); B29C 64/241 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/295 (2017.08) [B29C 48/2886 (2019.02); B29C 64/106 (2017.08); B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/205 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B29C 64/232 (2017.08); B29C 64/236 (2017.08); B29C 64/241 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); B29C 48/023 (2019.02); B29C 64/218 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B29C 64/40 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a part using an additive manufacturing machine, the method comprising:
receiving material with an extruder of the additive manufacturing machine;
heating the material as the material passes through the extruder;
depositing the material with a nozzle in fluid communication with the extruder to form a portion of the part;
adjusting a speed of movement of the material through the additive manufacturing machine in response to a first input from an operator and based on cooling characteristics of the material, wherein the cooling characteristics of the material include a rate at which the material cools upon deposition from the additive manufacturing machine;
determining a temperature of the material after the material is output from the nozzle;
generating a first indication of the temperature of the material output from the nozzle and second indication of whether the temperature of the material output from the nozzle is within a predetermined temperature range; and
based on the cooling characteristics of the material, further adjusting the speed of movement of the material through the additive manufacturing machine in response to a second input from the operator.