Abstract: A gas knife system for an additive manufacturing system can include one or more gas delivery members configured to move relative to a build area of the additive manufacturing system, and an inlet conduit configured to supply gas to the one or more gas delivery members while the one or more gas delivery members are moved relative to the build area. The system can also include one or more gas collection members configured to move relative to the build area of the additive manufacturing system, and an outlet conduit configured collect gas from the one or more gas collection members while the one or more gas collection members move relative to the build area.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to print heads for use in the bioprinting of biostructures having predetermined two (2D)- and/or three dimensional (3D) pattern of cells. Specifically, the disclosure relates to print heads operable in a bioprinting systems for the fabrication of edible biostructures using drop-on-demand.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus for forming a pattern in an imprint material on a substrate using an original, comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the substrate; and a processor configured to perform, based on fine-detection marks and rough-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit, an alignment process of the original and the substrate in forming the pattern in the imprint material, and overlay inspection of the substrate and the pattern formed in the imprint material, wherein the processor is configured to change, between the alignment process and the overlay inspection, a rough-detection mark group to be used to specify positions of fine-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: Extruders for 3D printing machines are disclosed, which are configured to print with fragile metallic filament substrates. The extruders include two rotating elements, each of which is at least partially cylindrical, with the two rotating elements being positioned parallel to each other (with a first of the rotating elements being configured to rotate in a first direction and a second of the rotating elements being configured to rotate in a second opposite direction). The extruders are operably connected to a transmission, which is configured to drive rotation of the rotating elements in the first direction and the second opposite direction. The extruders further include a metallic filament contact zone located in a cylindrical area of each of the two rotating elements, along with a flexible coating that at least partially covers the metallic filament contact zone. The flexible coating is configured to be removed and replaced by an operator of the 3D printing machine.

Abstract: Auxiliary material handling units for additive manufacturing (AM), AM methods, methods of handling auxiliary material of an AM system, active print head cleaning devices, feedstock container modules, and related systems are provided. An auxiliary material handling unit (AMHU) includes a material displacer having at least one entry port through which auxiliary material from an AM system is received, wherein the material displacer displaces the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. A method of handling auxiliary material of an AM system includes receiving auxiliary material from the AM system in a material displacer having at least one entry port; and, with the material displacer, displacing the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. Displaced auxiliary material may be processed with a material processing unit and/or collected in a collection reservoir. At least one sensor may provide feedback to a controller.

Abstract: Described is a system for reducing waste during 3D printing, which includes a printing component configured to print a plurality of layers. Each of the plurality of layers comprises at least one of a first curable material and a second curable material. The system also includes a leveling component configured to remove excess material from each of the plurality of layers after each layer is printed. The system includes a first recirculation loop configured to return the excess material that includes only the first curable material back to the printing component, and a second recirculation loop configured to return the excess material that includes only the second curable material back to the printing component. In addition, the system includes a waste bin configured to receive the excess material that includes both the first curable material and the second curable material.

Abstract: A green body for a 3D ceramic and/or metallic body is produced by providing a metal or a mixture of metals and/or a metalloid and/or a non-metal or mixtures thereof in form of at least one aqueous solutions, such as a metal nitrate solution; if more than one aqueous solutions are provided, they differ in composition and/or isotope concentration. One aqueous metal solution is mixed with a gelation fluid at a first temperature to suppress an internal gelation of the feed solution mixture prior to its ejection. The feed solution mixture is ejected by inkjet printing to the green body under construction. The ejected feed solution is heated mixture on the green body to a second temperature to fix it on the green body under construction. Several process steps are repeated according to a 3D production control model until a desired form of the green body is attained.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to reservoir manifold systems suitable for use with an additive manufacturing apparatus. Such manifold systems enable ease of use for making mechanical, electrical, and fluid connections to a reservoir used for additive manufacturing. Conduits formed in the reservoir manifold can allow for a fluid connection to be established with a reservoir to allow fluid flow into and out of the reservoir. The reservoir manifold can include one or more arms that are configured to move independently to couple to the reservoir of the printing apparatus. The reservoir manifold can include a trigger coupled to a latch mechanism for engaging one or more components of the apparatus. In some embodiments, the ability of the manifold to make electrical connections to the reservoir may present advantages to the ease-of-use and reliability of an additive manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to a container. The container has a chamber for storing build material for a three-dimensional printing system. The container comprises an opening coaxial with the chamber for coupling to the three-dimensional printing system. The container is configured such that rotation of the chamber in a first direction conveys build material in the chamber to the three-dimensional printing system and rotation of the chamber in a second direction conveys the build material away from the three-dimensional printing system.

Abstract: A process chamber housing for an additive manufacturing apparatus comprising a process chamber with a bottom, a ceiling, and sidewalls jointly enclosing a volume of the process chamber, with a gas inlet in a front wall and a gas outlet in a rear wall of the sidewalls. The gas inlet and outlet are positioned at opposite sides of an opening in the bottom and face each other, which allows for an improved removal of smoke out of the process chamber if the gas inlet has a width wi, the opening has a width ws, and the gas outlet has a width w0, such that at least one of the relations (i) wi?ws±4 cm and wo?ws±4 cm; (ii) wi?ws and/or wo?ws; and (iii) wi?ws+1 cm and/or wo?ws+1 cm is satisfied.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating prosthetics using a prosthetic machine are disclosed. The method includes creating a three dimensional (3D) shape of a prosthetic using a software. Successively, the 3D shape is sent for printing based at least on an availability of a printer. The printing is achieved by taking the 3D shape and slicing into very thin horizontal slices and thereafter placing a slice upon a slice for the 3D shape. Further, granular polycarbonate material is placed in a cartridge at the top of a compression head. Further, granules are fed through a four stage heating and compression process. Further, a heated plastic is pressurized and forced through an extruder to extrude in a 1 mm×4 mm ribbon. Thereafter, a printed object is formed on a base plate through motion that is controlled by a plurality of linear axes and a rotary axis.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to forming objects including one or more layers of a polymeric material that include a magnetic material. The objects can be produced by forming one or more first layers that include a first polymeric material. The one or more first layers can be free of a magnetic material. Additionally, the object can be produced by forming one or more second layers that include a second polymeric material having a magnetic material. For example, the one or more second layers can include a polymeric material embedded with magnetic particles. The one or more first layers and the one or more second layers can be formed by extruding the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material onto a substrate according to a pattern. A magnetizing device can be used to magnetize the magnetic material included in the one or more second layers.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy toward the stage. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A feed module is configured to support a feed roll of a resin support upstream of the stage about a feed mandrel. A first control device is operably coupled with the feed mandrel. A take-up module is configured to support a take-up roll of the resin support downstream of the stage about a take-up mandrel. A second control device is operably coupled with the take-up mandrel. A computing system is operably coupled with one or more sensors. The computing system is configured to provide commands to at least one of the first control device or the second control device to respectively rotate the first control device or the second control device to obtain a target tension on the resin support.

Abstract: In the context of a system that uses a pellet-type extruder head to form solid objects by moving the extruder relative to a build surface while melting and extruding pellets of raw material, systems and methods are provided which comprise cooling at least a portion of a pathway by which pellets of raw material are conveyed to a rotating extruder lead screw of the extruder head.

Abstract: An optical curing system for a large scale 3D printing system may include a light source housing, a light source, a mounting bracket, a light beam focusing subsystem, and a power source. The light source may be coupled to the light source housing. The mounting bracket may secure the light source housing to a rotary system on the 3D printer. The light beam focusing subsystem is attached to the light source housing. The power source may power the light source during its operation.

Abstract: A micro moulding machine and process for forming small plastic parts for the medical device industry. The machine adds heat in two steps to a precision sized plastic pellet and then displaces the entire pellet volume into the mould cavity. A substantial amount of heat is added to the pellet by forcing it through an orifice very near the gate of the mould. The pneumatic pressure to drive the pellet through the orifice is controlled to regulate the amount of heat introduced into the pellet.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a multi-axis robot arm comprising a deposition end effector, a rotating adjustable print stage comprising a rotary unit and a mandrel, the rotating adjustable print stage configured to rotate the mandrel around a rotation axis, and a control unit. The control unit may be configured to move the robotic arm in a radial dimension and a longitudinal dimension with respect to the mandrel to position the deposition end effector with respect to the mandrel, rotate the mandrel with the rotary unit, and cause the deposition end effector to deposit constituent on the mandrel to form a 3D-printed construct.

Abstract: Methods and systems for additive manufacturing can include a modular spreader unit including multiple spreaders that collectively span the width of a large build area. The spreaders can be arranged in offset rows so that spreaders in a second row cover gaps between spreaders in a first row. The spreaders can be secured with quick release mechanisms for rapid replacement and adjustment during service intervals.

Abstract: A method of configuring an additive manufacturing system. The method comprises configuring the additive manufacturing system with a first value of an operation parameter associated with the additive manufacturing system and, with the additive manufacturing system configured with the first value of the operation parameter, forming, in a build chamber, a first object The additive manufacturing system is subsequently configured with a second value of the operation parameter and, with the additive manufacturing system configured with the second value of the operation parameter, a second object is formed in the build chamber, subsequently to forming the first object. The method further includes receiving a signal indicative of which of the first value or the second value the operation parameter is to be configured with for subsequent operation of the additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: A device comprising a material distributor and a fluid dispenser. The material distributor to distribute a build material, layer-by-layer, to form a 3D object. A fluid dispenser to selectively dispense in at least some of the respective layers a first fluid agent and a second fluid agent. The first fluid agent, comprising a first color, is to be dispensed at first selectable voxel locations to affect a first material property of a first portion of the 3D object. The second fluid agent, comprising a second color, is to be dispensed at second selectable voxel locations to at least partially disguise the first color of the first portion of the 3D object.