Abstract: A printing system and method of forming a three-dimensional printed part in a printing system is disclosed, including forming a three-dimensional printed part in a printing system includes depositing a first print material onto a substrate or a partially formed three-dimensional metal part, depositing a second print material may include an oxidizing agent onto the partially formed three-dimensional part, and forming an oxidized layer on a top surface of the partially formed three-dimensional part.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional printed part is disclosed, including ejecting a drop of print material from an ejector for a printing system in a substantially vertical trajectory, directing a stream of inert gas toward the drop of print material from a first direction, and diverting the drop of print material from the substantially vertical trajectory prior to the drop of print material landing onto a surface. The method includes directing a stream of inert gas toward the drop of print material from other directions. A printing system includes at least a first channel oriented in a first plane parallel to the substrate and positioned between the substrate and the ejector, and a gas supply connected to the first channel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a vessel having a receptacle that holds melted metal. The vessel has one or more electrical coils positioned at an upper end of the vessel near an inlet for solid metal that is melted within the receptacle. AC electrical current is passed through the one or more electrical coils to produce traveling magnetic fields in the melted metal at the upper end of the receptacle in the vessel to stir the melted metal and attenuate the formation of dross in the melted metal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a movable directed energy source to melt hardened metal drops and form an oxidation layer. A metal support structure can be formed over the oxidation layer, an object feature can be formed over the oxidation layer, or both a metal support structure and an object feature can be formed over oxidation layers located at opposite sides of a metal support structure. The oxidation layers weakly attach the metal support structure to the object feature supported by the metal support structure so the support structure can be easily removed after manufacture of the object is complete.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer identifies image areas in ink image content data that are likely to affected by airflow disturbances to produce ink blur within an ink image. Inkjets farthest from these areas are selected to eject ink drops into these areas to form portions of an ink image. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the leading edge, trailing edge, and side edge of the ink image content data. The ink drops ejected by these selected inkjets and their satellites are less likely to be affected adversely by the airflow disturbances.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer evaluates the effect of printing a print job with two different orientations of the image content data for the print job. The orientation that produces the least increase in the cross-process direction displacement error for the inkjets in the printer is selected for printing the print job. By attenuating the increase in cross-process direction displacement error, the interval between printhead maintenance operations is increased.

Abstract: A dross extraction system for a printer is disclosed, which includes an ejector defining an inner cavity associated therewith, the inner cavity retaining a liquid printing material. The dross extraction system also includes a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity of the ejector, a probe external to the ejector, which is selectably positionable to contact the liquid printing material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material. A method of extracting dross from a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the metal jetting printer, advancing a probe into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir in the metal jetting printer, extracting dross from the metal printing material and onto the probe, retracting the probe from the nozzle pump reservoir, and resuming the operation of the metal jetting printer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with two solid metal moving mechanisms that are independently operated to move two different metals into the receptacle of a vessel in a melted metal drop ejecting apparatus. The ejector is operated to form object features with melted metal drops of one of the two different metals and to form support features with melted metal drops of the other of the two different metals. The thermal expansion coefficients of the two metals are sufficiently different that the support features easily separate from the object features after the object and support features cool.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed, including a metal ejecting apparatus, which may include a structure defining an inner cavity to receive a metal printing material, and a nozzle orifice in connection with the inner cavity and configured to eject one or more droplets of a liquid metal may include the metal printing material. The printing system also includes a first print material feed system configured to supply a first print material into the inner cavity. The printing system also includes a second print material feed system may include a second print material configured to measure a level of metal printing material in the inner cavity, where the second print material is a wire. A method of sensing and controlling level in a metal jetting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer identifies a thermal load that will be imposed on the printheads in the inkjet printer during execution of a print job and identifies a remedial action to reduce the thermal load if the thermal load increases the temperature of the printheads above an upper threshold of a predetermined temperature range. The thermal load is identified from the ink image content data for the print job, the print job parameters for the print job, and environmental condition measurements received from sensors in the printer. The remedial actions include manipulation of the print job queue, alteration of print job parameters, and active cooling to remove heat from the printheads or media within the printer.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer is configured to introduce a liquid metal onto a first part and a second part while the first part and the second part are in contact with one another. The liquid metal subsequently solidifies to join the first part and the second part together to produce an assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer identifies image areas and image features in ink image content data that are likely to produce ink blur within an ink image. The ink image content data for these areas and features is modified to attenuate the appearance of ink blur. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the trailing edge and the side edges of the ink image content data. The modification of the ink image content data for the features and predetermined areas improves the quality of the printed ink image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a removable vessel to reduce the time required for start-up procedures after the printer is serviced. The removable vessel is filled with solid metal that is heated to its melting temperature before the bulk wire is inserted into the vessel to commence printing operations. The melting of the solid metal in the removable vessel requires less time that the melting of an length of bulk wire adequate to produce a volume of melted metal suitable for printer operation. The solid metal in the removable vessel can be metal pellets, metal powder, or a solid metal insert.

Abstract: A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a pair of temperature regulation modules mounted on opposite sides of each printhead in the printer. Each temperature regulation module includes a thermoelectric cooling device that is activated by a controller when the temperature of the printhead exceeds a predetermined setpoint. By cooling the printheads, the temperature of the printheads can be kept in a temperature range that enables fast drying inks to obtain their optimal performance and that prevents duplex printing operations from raising the temperature of the printheads significantly above the predetermined setpoint.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer evaluates the effect of printing a print job with two different orientations of the image content data for the print job. The orientation that produces the least increase in the cross-process direction displacement error for the inkjets in the printer is selected for printing the print job. By attenuating the increase in cross-process direction displacement error, the interval between printhead maintenance operations is increased.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject ink through an opening in a carrier plate to a deposition region. A print medium is held against a movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated through platen holes of a vacuum platen and transported through the deposition region. An airflow control system comprises upstream and downstream valves associated with the printhead, individually addressable channels for the vacuum platen, or both. The upstream and downstream valves are arranged to selectively block and allow airflow through an upstream side or a downstream side, respectively, of the opening in the carrier plate. Actuation of the upstream and downstream valves may be controlled based on a location of the print medium. The channels are arranged to selectively control the supply of vacuum suction to respectively corresponding columns of platen holes. Actuation of the channels may be controlled based on a size of the print medium.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer operates solvent vapor generators that direct two flows of solvent vapor towards media on each side of each printhead in the process direction. The solvent vapor attenuates the evaporation of ink solvent from ink drops on the nozzle plates or from the ink in the nozzles of the printheads. Thus, the ink on the nozzle plates and in the nozzles does not dry out and the operational status of the inkjets is preserved.

Abstract: A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.