According to GlobalData’s company profile on Stratasys, Spacecraft 3D Printing was a key innovation area identified from patents. Stratasys's grant share as of September 2023 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

A 3d printer with a movable print head and platen

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11760015B2) describes a method and a 3D printer for building 3D objects. The method involves using a 3D printer with a build platen and a primary Z positioner to move the build platen within a build chamber. The printer also has a print head and one or more alternative print heads that can extrude consumable material through a nozzle.

The method includes engaging the print head with a print head carriage and controlling the x-y position of the print head using an x-y gantry. The print head carriage consists of a tool mount and a local Z positioner with a linear motor. The local Z positioner can move the engaged print head in the z-direction, from a build position within the build chamber to a tool exchange position adjacent to a tool changer. The tool changer has multiple bays for retaining the print head and alternative print heads.

During the printing process, the engaged print head is controlled to extrude the consumable material while moving simultaneously in the x, y, and z-directions within the build chamber. The local Z positioner is also controlled to raise the engaged print head to the tool exchange position during periods of no extrusion, allowing for the exchange of print heads with alternative ones.

The 3D printer described in the patent includes a build platen, a primary Z positioner, a print head, one or more alternative print heads, a tool changer, a print head carriage, an x-y gantry, and a controller. The print head carriage consists of a tool mount and a local Z positioner with a linear motor. The controller commands the x-y gantry to move the print head in the x-y plane, the local Z positioner to move the print head in the z-direction, and the engaged print head to extrude consumable material.

The patent also mentions various features of the 3D printer, such as the operable range of motion of the local Z positioner, the ability to print multiple successive layers before incrementing the build platen, the formation of interlocked and scarf joints, and the use of the linear motor as a touch probe to measure system parameters. The printer is designed to maintain fidelity of print head positioning even at high speeds and accelerations.

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