US 11,850,797 B2
Liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system
Adrianus Bruggeman, Enschede (NL); Marald Speelman, Enschede (NL); Klaas Groen, Enschede (NL); Martijn Johannes Wolbers, Enschede (NL); Koendert Hendrik Kuit, Enschede (NL); and Antonie Everhard Ekkelenkamp, Enschede (NL)
Assigned to BOND HIGH PERFORMANCE 3D TECHNOLOGY B.V., Enschede (NL)
Appl. No. 17/281,376
Filed by BOND HIGH PERFORMANCE 3D TECHNOLOGY B.V., Enschede (NL)
PCT Filed Oct. 2, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/076751
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/070212, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18198461 (EP), filed on Oct. 3, 2018; and application No. 18198464 (EP), filed on Oct. 3, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032541 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 48/30 (2019.01); B29C 48/92 (2019.01); B29C 48/02 (2019.01); B29C 48/05 (2019.01); C25D 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 48/02 (2019.02); B29C 48/05 (2019.02); B29C 48/3001 (2019.02); B29C 48/92 (2019.02); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); C25D 1/02 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a liquefier tube, comprising:
a. a body provided with a feed channel;
b. said feed channel having:
i. a feeding portion having a first diameter;
ii. an outlet portion having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter;
iii. a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion;
wherein said transitional portion has a monotonically decreasing third diameter from said feeding portion to said outlet portion; and
wherein said third diameter, as a function of a longitudinal position of said feed channel, is differentiable in said transitional portion and at a first transition between said transitional portion and said outlet portion; and wherein said feed channel has an inner surface with a roughness (Ra) of less than 3.2 μm,
the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a mandrel having an outer surface that is provided with an outer profile that is complementary to an inner profile of said feed channel of said liquefier tube and wherein said outer surface is electrically conductive;
b. depositing a metal layer on said electrically conducting outer surface for forming said liquefier tube using electroforming;
c. removing said liquefier tube from the mandrel.