Anyone have seen or knows more info on the Blackbelt 3D printer?
I can’t access their site http://www.blackbelt-3d.com
Apparently they’re on twitter. Try this: https://www.twitter.com/blackbelt3d (Twitter is blocked at my office, so I can’t check it myself, just passing on the URL…)
This has been proposed many times in the past, particularly back when the Makerbot automatic build plate was released, but to my knowledge nobody ever got the whole toolchain working. BUILDING hardware to do this isn’t very hard (although conveyor flexing is an engineering challenge) so it’s largely a slicer programming exercise.
Didn’t maker it patent this? Is it legal to build your own for personal use? Any patent experts out there? Can plans be put out in the community for personal use?
Brook
@Brook_Drumm I’m very sure that they did in fact patent it. And given everything else they did I’d be very surprised if not.
Here is another way to automatically clear the print bed:
there was talk of a similar concept from mrrf on hack-a-day. they figure maker’s patent doesn’t apply to these since the patent specifically mentions putting the belt on a moving bed. none of them are lawyers, though so who knows.
it’s still my dream to build one though 
It’s not so much about clearing the buildplate but printing parts of “infinite” length in one dimension.
You are not, technically, allowed to make patented things for your own personal use. Patent holders are allowed to prevent you from making things that copy/infringe on their patent.
It’s highly unlikely, however (and for a variety of reasons), that you would run into any legal issues for making a patented item for personal use.
There are THREE separate Makerbot automated build plate patents, which partially overlap. Roughly speaking…
- Conveyor attached to the moving build plate US8287794B2 - Automated 3D build processes - Google Patents
- Multiple independent heaters on a build surface that moves through the working volume (eg conveyor or automatic build plate changing) US8668859B2 - Automated 3D build processes - Google Patents
- Conveyor print surfaces using various constructions US8226395B2 - Automated 3D build processes - Google Patents
There is room for designs that don’t infringe any of these, but it’s kind of a minefield. For example, in my reading, a simple loop of kapton conveyor probably does NOT violate patent #3 above, but if you build rigid link reinforcement (like a tank tread) to keep the kapton from pulling up, that WOULD infringe.
I think an arm or mechanism to load/unload flexible build plates is probably more straight forward w/o kapton tape pulling up or getting damaged on a conveyor. We dreamed up a system to automate flexing the flexible build plate to pop off the prints… meaning only two build plates would be needed and maybe no complicated robot arm.
Something like an automatic loader on a CNC machine is what I would do.
@Taylor_Landry . Don’t know in US but in Italy patents law doesen’t prevent you to make patented things for personal use and not for commercial purpose. Personal private use never been a problem for companyes Indeed.
Yes, I should have been more specific. US Patent law allows for the patent holder to bar personal use.
Because defending patents in court is very expensive (usually $50-60k to just file the paperwork), it would be very odd for a company to go after a personal use case.
The only logical reason I can think of would be if the person is encouraging (and perhaps providing instructions for) other people to infringe on the patent.
@Taylor_Landry As I told you I don’t know US patent law, but pretty sure it apply as you say in US only. Every country has its patent laws that are significantly different from the other countries ones. In Italy nobody can prevent you to produce some patented good for non commercial-experimetal use or for study purpose. And that’s not a law omission, that’s explicitally stated in Italian law (R.D. 29 giugno 1939, n. 1127 art. 1 comma 3). So every personal hack made for non commercial purpose is legally allowed in Italy. More than that patent protection is not automatic but must be extended in each country where it is desired to have this protection. Last but not least, there is no law I know that prevents anybody (except individuals contactually bound to industrial secrect) to spread instructions on how works or how to realize any patented good.
As it happens, the ABP could not be patented in the EU at all, because the invention was disclosed prior to patent filing. Charles Pax (the inventor) posted about it on his blog in March 2010. Then Makerbot hired him and patented his invention (which he wasn’t happy about). This was legal under US patent law but not others.
Interesting. Well, my conclusion is: screw it… I’ll make something totally different that is in the public domain 
A robot that removes build plates should do it. It can be an independent add on unit and doesn’t have to be connected to the printer at all. It’s basic and doable, but it would help if it can be adapted to any printer so the community can get their arms around it. I’ll build it but may need help w arduino programming. Wouldn’t a lot of makers benefit who want to kill it on 3d hubs or do their own light manufacturing?! It’s gotta be cheap (and simple) and good, but not fast. Always my two of the three choices
Brook
Still wondering why everone talks about the automatic part removal. This guy seems to print with a tilted extrusion axis / layers to manufacture parts of arbitrary length http://www.tctmagazine.com/tctblogs/daniel-oconnors-blog/blackbelt-3d-what-we-know-about-latest-3d-printer/#.WQl-U4_Rxhw.facebook
I don’t think that creator is building that for personal use. It looks like a prototype in gearing up for commercial production.
@Jeff_DeMaagd Of course it is a prototype of a commercial printer. Discussion was on possibility of take the Idea for personal realization of same idea at home in a self made 3d printer.
@Brook_Drumm Are you thinking a pre-made robot arm, or something custom made. Hopefully Voodoo doesn’t have a patent on the “technique” or process. They are doing something similar with an off the shelf robot arm. It’s hardly novel, but I wouldn’t put it past our patent system. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/voodoo-manufacturing-aim-247-3d-printing-factory-robot-arm-powered-project-skywalker-108157/