NON-CYLINDRICAL FILAMENTS FOR USE IN EXTRUSION-BASED DIGITAL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

摘要

A consumable material (34) for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system (10), the consumable material (34) comprising a length (36) and a cross-sectional profile (38) of at least a portion of the length (36) that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile (38) is configured to provide a response time with a non- cylindrical liquefier (48) of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system (10) that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate.