US 11,833,752 B2
Additive manufacturing system and method of servicing
Kenneth J. Susnjara, Birdseye, IN (US); Brian S. Smiddy, Newburgh, IN (US); John Fuquay, Boonville, IN (US); and Scott G. Vaal, Jasper, IN (US)
Assigned to Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed by Thermwood Corporation, Dale, IN (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/356,022.
Application 16/917,303 is a division of application No. 16/240,101, filed on Jan. 4, 2019, granted, now 10,723,074, issued on Jul. 28, 2020.
Application 17/356,022 is a continuation of application No. 16/917,303, filed on Jun. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,059,227.
Prior Publication US 2021/0316506 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/141 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B29C 64/218 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/141 (2017.08); B29C 64/218 (2017.08); B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of servicing an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
detaching an extruder drive assembly from an extruder, the extruder drive assembly having a motor overlapping a longitudinal axis of the extruder, the extruder drive assembly rotatably coupled to a carrier and rotatable about a longitudinal service axis that is offset from the longitudinal axis of the extruder;
rotating the extruder drive assembly about the longitudinal service axis, such that the extruder drive assembly clears the longitudinal axis of the extruder;
removing a first extruder screw from the extruder by raising the first extruder screw along the longitudinal axis of the extruder until the first extruder screw is clear of the extruder and the motor is spaced away from the longitudinal axis of the extruder;
replacing the first extruder screw with a second extruder screw by lowering the second extruder screw into the extruder along the longitudinal axis of the extruder;
rotating the extruder drive assembly about the longitudinal service axis such that the motor of the extruder drive assembly overlaps the longitudinal axis of the extruder; and
attaching the extruder drive assembly to the extruder.