Ribbon liquefier for use in extrusion-based digital manufacturing systems

• Main Authors: CRUMP S. SCOTT, SWANSON WILLIAM J, BATCHELDER J. SAMUEL
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 04.07.2012
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A ribbon liquefier (38) comprising an outer liquefier portion (66) configured to receive thermal energy from a heat transfer component (40), and a channel (72) at least partially defined by the outer liquefier portion (66), where the channel (72) has dimensions that are configured to receive a ribbon filament (44), and where the ribbon liquefier (38) is configured to melt the ribbon filament (44) received in the channel (72) to at least an extrudable state with the received thermal energy to provide a melt flow. The dimensions of the channel (72) are further configured to conform the melt flow from an axially- asymmetric flow to a substantially axially-symmetric flow in an extrusion tip (52) connected to the ribbon liquefier (38).