Patent Application
20210276246
The present disclosure relates to additive manufacturing, and more particularly to material extrusion type additive manufacturing.
Material extrusion additive manufacturing systems traditionally feed an extruded material through an extruder, which deposits the material first onto a build plate or support structure, and then layer by layer builds a part upward from the preceding layers. A common practice is for a design firm to design a part, supply the three-dimensional build data to a vendor, and for the vendor to enter the three-dimensional build data into the controller of an additive manufacturing machine to produce the part. The designing firm can lose control of their design, e.g., where the vendor makes unauthorized copies of the designed part, and/or does not observe the design firm's quality requirements.
The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purposes. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for additive manufacturing. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.
A stock material for additive manufacturing includes an extrudable filament configured for use as feed stock for an extrusion type additive manufacturing machine. Machine code is physically affixed to the extrudable filament. The machine code includes code specifying build instructions readable by the extrusion type additive manufacturing machine for building a specific part.
The machine code can include layer by layer movement instructions for controlling an extruder of the additive manufacturing machine to make a specific part. The machine code can be encrypted. The machine code can be formed in markings that are configured to evaporate or dissolve while being extruded through the additive manufacturing machine. The markings can be formed from a thermal, mechanical, and/or chemical process.
A method includes receiving extrudable filament into an extrusion type additive manufacturing machine. The method includes reading machine code physically affixed to the extrudable filament, wherein the machine code includes code specifying build instructions readable by the extrusion type additive manufacturing machine for building a specific part. The method includes following the instructions with an extruder to additively manufacture the specific part.
Following the instructions with an extruder can include evaporating or dissolving the markings of which the machine code is formed. Following the instructions with the extruder can include building the specific part layer by layer. Reading machine code and following the instructions with the extruder can occur at the same time, e.g., wherein a portion of the extrudable filament being read contains instructions controlling the extruder in real time without copying the machine code. There can be a lag between reading a portion of the machine code and when that portion of the machine code is followed by the extruder so a final layer of the specific part is printed after instructions for the final layer are received from the filament material, e.g. where the machine code is buffered but no complete or permanent copy is made of the machine code. The machine code corresponding to early layers in the specific part can be destroyed prior to printing subsequent layers of the specific part. The method can include decrypting the machine code for use in controlling the extruder.
A method includes physically affixing machine code to an extrudable filament for use as feed stock for a material extrusion type additive manufacturing machine, wherein the machine code includes code specifying build instructions readable by the extrusion type additive manufacturing machine for building a specific part. The method can include encrypting the machine code prior to physically affixing the machine code to the extrudable filament.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of an additive manufacturing machine in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
A stock material 102 for additive manufacturing includes an extrudable filament 104 configured for use as feed-stock for the extrusion type additive manufacturing machine 100. Machine code 106 (schematically indicated in the magnified inset of
The machine code 106 can include layer by layer movement instructions for controlling the extruder 110 of the additive manufacturing machine 100 to make the specific part 108. The machine code 106 can be encrypted. The machine code 106 can be formed in markings 112 (schematically indicated in the magnified inset of
A method includes receiving extrudable filament, e.g. filament 104, into a material extrusion type additive manufacturing machine, e.g. machine 100. The method includes reading machine code that is physically affixed to the extrudable filament, e.g., reading machine code 106 with a reader 114 of the machine 100, wherein the machine code includes code specifying build instructions readable by the material extrusion type additive manufacturing machine for building a specific part, e.g. specific part 108 of
Following the instructions with an extruder can include evaporating or dissolving the markings, e.g., markings 112, of which the machine code is formed. Following the instructions with the extruder can include building the specific part 108 layer by layer, e.g. starting from a build plate 108 and adding layers 118 layer by layer. Reading machine code and following the instructions with the extruder can occur at the same time, e.g., wherein a portion of the extrudable filament being read contains instructions controlling the extruder in real time without copying the machine code. There can be a lag between reading a portion of the machine code and when that portion of the machine code is followed by the extruder, e.g. so a final layer 122 of the specific part 108 is printed after instructions for the final layer 122 are received from the filament material 104, e.g. where the machine code is buffered in reader 114 but no complete or permanent copy is made of the machine code 106. The machine code corresponding to early layers, e.g. layers closer to the build plate 120, in the specific part can be destroyed prior to printing subsequent layers, e.g. layers farther from the build plate 120, of the specific part. The method can include decrypting the machine code for use in controlling the extruder.
With reference now to
The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for self-destructing code for additively manufactured parts, e.g., so the designer can maintain control of quality, unauthorized copying, and the like. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
