Bambu Lab just lost a case against Stratasys. What does this mean?
The case was surrounding one of Stratasys’ many 3D printing patents. In this case, it was US9421713B2, “Additive manufacturing method for printing three-dimensional parts with purge towers”. This patent describes a method by which multiple print heads can use a tower to collect waste material generated by purging when a colour change occurs.
This is a relatively common approach in desktop FFF 3D printing, and has been done so for many years. However, somehow Stratasys obtained a patent for the process in 2016, even though there is plenty of evidence for this type of approach being used previously by multiple other parties. The patent authorities evidently did not see that evidence when they examined the patent application.
Nevertheless, Stratasys now holds a valid patent for this process.
The lawsuit involved Bambu Lab attempting to invalidate the patent because of this evidence.
What was the decision? Here it is:
“After considering the briefs, evidence, and oral arguments in this case, we determine that Petitioner has not proven by a preponderance of the evidence that any of claims 1, 2, 5-7, 9, 16, and 17 of the ‘713 patent is unpatentable.”
In other words, the US PTO did not accept the evidence presented by Bambu Lab, so the attempt to invalidate the patent failed.
Some believe this is the end of desktop 3D printing, as is usually the case when something like this occurs. But it’s really nothing of the sort.
It’s just that Bambu Lab failed to present enough evidence, or in a way that was convincing. Someone else could certainly make a second case with a different strategy in the future.
In addition, the patent is about multiple 3D print heads:
“A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method including printing layers of the three-dimensional part and of a support structure for the three-dimensional part from multiple print heads or deposition lines, and switching the print heads or deposition line between stand-by modes and operating modes in-between the printing of the layers of the three-dimensional part and the support structure.”
Current filament swapping 3D printers use a single printhead, and so they are not involved in this whatsoever.
My take is that Bambu Lab will continue to clear a path for their multicolor systems in the future using whatever means they can legally use. If that means paying Stratasys licensing fees, they might do that, too.
Some may fear Stratasys will leverage this patent to shut down open-source slicers, or terrorize smaller 3D printer manufacturers. None of that is going to happen; Stratasys cares only when their own business is affected, and all of those things do not. They focus on large-scale manufacturers, not open-source tinkerers and hobbyists.
At first glance, this decision seems profound, but in reality, it’s just another step along the way.
Via Reddit, Unified Patents, and Google Patents
