US 12,337,538 B2
Apparatus, system and method of operating an additive manufacturing nozzle
William MacNeish, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Erik Gjovik, St. Petersburg, FL (US); and Luke Rodgers, St. Petersburg, FL (US)
Assigned to JABIL INC.
Filed by JABIL INC., St. Petersburg, FL (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/463,843.
Application 18/463,843 is a continuation of application No. 17/417,091, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2019/067546, filed on Dec. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/783,062, filed on Dec. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0042687 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heating element for a 3D printer nozzle having a tip from which exits 3D print material, and a nozzle body terminating in the tip, comprising:
a first sheath comprising a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, wherein the first sheath is provided as a bolt-on to readily engage and disengage around an outer circumference of the 3D printer nozzle;
a first nichrome wire coil embedded between a first threshold of the first inner diameter of the first sheath and a second threshold of the first outer diameter of the first sheath;
an insulating layer comprising glass fabric positioned between the outer circumference of the 3D printer nozzle and the first inner diameter of the first sheath; and
at least one energy receiver associated with the first nichrome wire coil,
wherein the first nichrome wire coil is capable of delivering multiple heating zones comprising a hotter zone proximate the tip and a cooler zone at the nozzle body to the outer circumference of the 3D printer nozzle, and
wherein the insulating layer is configured to direct heat of the multiple heating zones, in the form of infrared (IR) power, towards the 3D printer nozzle.