APPARATUS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING

摘要

A three-dimensional printing apparatus (10) includes a material receiving area (12) for receiving material, a plasticizer (14), a discharge pump (16) and a first auger (22). The material receiving area (12) receives material to be used to be used in the three-dimensional printing process. The plasticizer (14) includes a heating zone (28) which places the material in shear. The discharge pump (16) controls the flow of the material. The first auger (22) extends from the material receiving area (12) through the plasticizer (14) and terminates proximate the discharge pump (16). The material is maintained under pressure in the discharge pump (16) until the material exits a nozzle (30) provided at the end of the discharge pump (16) for depositing on a build plate (60).