Electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system with reciprocating operation

摘要

An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part using electrophotography, the additive manufacturing system comprising a rotatable photoconductor component, first and second development stations configured to develop layers of materials on a surface of the rotatable photoconductor component while the rotatable photoconductor component rotates in opposing rotational directions, and a platen configured to operably receive the developed layers in a layer-by-layer manner to print the three-dimensional part from at least a portion of the received layers.

主权项

1. An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part, the additive manufacturing system comprising:
a photoconductor component having a surface; a first development station configured to develop layers of a first material on the surface of the photoconductor component; a second development station configured to develop layers of a second material on the surface of the rotatable photoconductor; a transfer component having a surface configured to receive the developed layers from the surface of the photoconductor component; a controller configured to rotate the photoconductor component in opposing first and second rotational directions, and to rotate the transfer component in first and second counter rotational directions that are respectively synchronized with and counter to the first and second rotational directions of the photoconductor component; a first heater configured to heat the received developed layers on the transfer component while the transfer component rotates in the first counter rotational direction; a second heater configured to heat the received developed layers on the transfer component while the transfer component rotates in the second counter rotational direction; and a moveable platen configured to receive the heated layers from the transfer component to print the three-dimensional part from at least a portion of the received heated layers.