3D PRINTER FOR PRINTING A PLURALITY OF MATERIAL TYPES

摘要

A three-dimensional (3D) printer and associated 3D printing method includes (i) a dispensing system comprising removable cartridges adapted to dispense different materials, each cartridge including status pins that transfer an identity of each cartridge, properties of the build material dispenser, and/or properties of a build material disposed therein; (ii) a build surface disposed below the dispensing system; (iii) a multi-axis positioning system to position the dispensing system relative to the build surface; and (iv) status pin connections. The status pin connections are mated with some portion of the discrete status pins. A structural material is dispensed from one cartridge onto the build surface to define at least a portion of the object. A functional ink is dispensed from the other cartridge onto a region of the object.

主权项

1. A three-dimensional printer comprising:
a dispensing system comprising at least two removable cartridges adapted to dispense different materials, wherein each removable cartridge includes a plurality of discrete status pins that provide data to identify the corresponding removable cartridge and a build material disposed therein; a build surface disposed below the dispensing system; a multi-axis positioning system adapted to position the dispensing system relative to the build surface; and a plurality of status pin connections structured and arranged to mate with corresponding discrete status pins and configured to transfer data comprising at least one of an identity of each cartridge, properties of an associated build material dispenser, and properties of a build material disposed therein.