Tripteron Implementation

Welp, I decided to go ahead and model it up. I was able to connect everything with literally just the parts from 80/20, which is kind of amazing. I got a clever idea about using a 2"x2"x2" extrusion for the effector and with a little more mounting cleverness, it works shockingly well. I also reduced the outer frame lengths to 16" instead of 18", to avoid Z arm jackknifing.

Here is a video link and here is the A360 3D viewer link. I know the navigation is a little messy, but I'm trying to show all the angles, some of the joint interference spots that need a little engineering (like using spacers on the X/Y effector mating surfaces to keep their joints away from each other), but overall this looks like an extremely successful way to combine these parts, assuming the rigidity and performance is there.

The 2"x2" effector has a > 20mm minimum radius through its central hole, and a square arrangement of 4 screw holes, meaning a hotend clamp could be attached on the bottom, and a direct drive extruder on the top.

And lastly, the low profile linear slide setup with offset mounting points pulls the arms out some, which is always good, and can use the mount holes to attach belt/screw attachments on the other side.

I'm looking forward to testing the joints and slides to see how they do, but this is looking reeeeeally good as a basic assembly idea.

I've decided to put this thread on hold. It's too large and I'm really the only one posting now. I have run into some patent licensing roadblocks (they want a company to license to with a business plan and sales forecasts to determine royalties, etc), as well.

If I develop this idea or specific design further, I will post something new, but for right now I don't have a lot of new things to say. You can find me in the usual places as Apsu or Apsuity if you want to follow up on building one of these.

They might be amenable to a free noncommercial creative commons license. At least they should be. It preserves the ability for them to dual license it for money and it makes them look good.

That said it is easy for them to say no because it would require lawyers to do work and it is not risk free. If you have some contacts, I can get the inventor to put pressure on the licensing department to play ball. Last time I talked with him, he had talked to them but they wouldnt talk back. (Asking for a noncommercial licensing agreement is one of those things that require work so they probably ghosted him but it might not have been intentional.) Now that you have a dialog, we could potentially insert him into the conversation.

If you want to make money then the royalties will make it annoying at best. You are free to jump to a Sextupteron/Hexapteron if you want. AFAIK no one has patented it and I am the inventor with clear prior art. With people starting to embrace the idea of non planar printing...there is a potential value add here if you want to make printers for money.

Good luck!

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ConceptFORGE
Wally, GUS Simpson, LISA Simpson, THOR Simpson, Sextupteron, CoreXZ

Thanks Nicholas, I appreciate your input. I did pursue the non-commercial aspect and even talked about acquiring the patent, and they informed me that they value it for its commercial and research potential, and are only willing to license for commercial use. I also met someone who worked on a *pteron industrial machine, so they have had some large commercial licensees in the past, which makes it all the more likely they're not willing to do a non-commercial. Any way you slice it, the patent expires in 2022, so maybe we just need to wait it out

But I do take your point about the 6-DOF model, and I appreciate how you've kept it in the open. Ideally I'd love to be able to end up with a unique design that could become a business, but it's not my primary goal.

2022 is soon. Patents don't prevent your own building adventures. You can also document your work as long as you aren't monetizing it. I think a disclaimer is more than enough in the name of the law. They wont sue anyone unless they actually sale a tripteron.

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ConceptFORGE
Wally, GUS Simpson, LISA Simpson, THOR Simpson, Sextupteron, CoreXZ

@Apsu please don't be disappointed about low participation. Like me I am sure several people are reading your thread with interest and wish you good luck implementing a good printer.

I would be interested in a category here in the forum to list all patents and when they expire. We could also collect prior art examples in this area.

Hi Apsu (and everybody else),

I've registered an account only to make you sure your work is still closely looked at.
It was exciting to read every post in one go, and I'm now like a kid in a candy shop.

Thank you for all you have done and for what is coming!

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Owns a µDelta Rework from eMotion Tech. Runs a Mimaki 3DUJ-553.

Quote
Pougnagna
Hi Apsu (and everybody else),

I've registered an account only to make you sure your work is still closely looked at.
It was exciting to read every post in one go, and I'm now like a kid in a candy shop.

Thank you for all you have done and for what is coming!

Hey there, sorry for the delayed response.

I appreciate the feedback and sentiment! The project has been a lot of fun, but for the time being given the patent situation, I'm focusing on my DiffBot and maybe Inverted Delta projects for now. I made a thread for DiffBot here if you'd like to take a look.