Makerbot files patents based on open source designs, bed leveling being one of them

Apparently Makerbot has been watching what we as a community are doing and trying to patent it.

Some info here:
[www.openbeamusa.com]

Reprap user Whosa Whatsis has some as on it as well on his Google+ page:
[plus.google.com]

There is literally another thread on this 2 posts down from yours.

Strange, because I actually searched for it before posting and got nothing.

Link to the other topic: [forums.reprap.org]

SMD pick and place machines have used probeless auto leveling technology for decades. Other machines may as well have used these sensors for even longer. The sensors like ultrasonic or optical sensors have just been developed for that purpose. It should be possible to research corresponding patents from the past, maybe they even expired already.

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Blogs:
Meine 3D Druck Abenteuer
[3dptb.blogspot.de]
FLSUN Delta Drucker für Deutschland
[flsun-deutschland.blogspot.com]
Books on 3D patents:
[goo.gl] (english)
[www.amazon.de] (deutsch)

I thought I would help by adding a useful design to thingiverse

[www.thingiverse.com]

Mike