Abstract: A method of operating a multi-nozzle extruder in an additive manufacturing system enables support structure to be formed while an object is also being formed. The method includes opening more than one nozzle in the multi-nozzle extruder, and operating an actuator with a controller to move the multi-nozzle extruder along a path to form a first group of multiple parallel ribbons of support structure simultaneously with material extruded from the more than one open nozzle.

Abstract: Ucn2 derivatives comprising a peptide and a substituent with high potency, high physical and high chemical stability, suitable for administration to humans, and their medical use in treatment and/or prevention of obesity and/or diabetes.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a controller configured to modify numerical control programming instructions to form interlocking structures that improve object structural integrity in the Z-direction. The interlocking structures are produced by forming one layer with swaths that are separated by gaps and another layer that is formed over the gaps to fill the gaps and lay over the swaths forming the gaps.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a controller configured to modify numerical control programming instructions to form interlocking structures that improve object structural integrity in the Z-direction. The interlocking structures are produced by forming one layer with swaths that are separated by gaps and another layer that is formed over the gaps to fill the gaps and lay over the swaths forming the gaps.

Abstract: A process including providing a substantially flat printed image on a substrate; disposing a curable gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image, successively depositing additional amounts of the gellant composition to create a raised image in registration with the printed image; and curing the deposited raised image. A process including providing a printed image on a substrate; disposing a curable non-gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image; and disposing a curable gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image; to create a raised image in registration with the printed image; and curing the deposited raised image. An ultraviolet curable phase change gellant composition including a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer, a photoinitiator, a silicone polymer or pre-polymer, and a gellant.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a controller configured to operate an actuator to move a multi-nozzle extruder in an XY plane and rotate the multi-nozzle extruder about an axis perpendicular to the XY plane while operating the multi-nozzle extruder to form swaths in the XY plane. The controller operates the actuator and the multi-nozzle extruder to keep the nozzles of the extruder within perimeters formed for an object and to vary the speed and rotation of the extruder while extruding material to form precise structures.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system opens the valves in an extruder needed to form a swath and operates an actuator to move the extruder through a transition region with those valves open to establish an amount of extrusion material between a faceplate of the extruder and a portion of an object being formed that is adequate for formation of a swath. The length of the transition region is determined with reference to a viscosity of the material being extruded and a speed at which the extruder is moved to form the swath. The transition region can be perpendicular to a path of the extruder to form the swath or aligned with the path of the extruder to form the swath.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a sensor array arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system operates an actuator to move an extruder with reference to a selected first zig-zag pattern to sparsely fill an interior region of an object by extruding a swath of thermoplastic material that has straight portions connected by angled portions. After a first pass using the first zig-zag pattern is completed, a second zig-zag pattern is used to form a complementary swath that forms rigid structure with the first swath. Use of the two patterns is alternated to sparsely fill the interior region in multiple layers of the object until a predetermined distance from a solid fill structure or surface is detected. Transition patterns are then used to increase the density of the swaths in the interior region in the next successive layers of the object until the layer is reached where a solid fill surface is formed over the swaths formed using the transition patterns.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system opens the valves in an extruder needed to form a swath and operates an actuator to move the extruder through a transition region with those valves open to establish an amount of extrusion material between a faceplate of the extruder and a portion of an object being formed that is adequate for formation of a swath. The length of the transition region is determined with reference to a viscosity of the material being extruded and a speed at which the extruder is moved to form the swath. The transition region can be perpendicular to a path of the extruder to form the swath or aligned with the path of the extruder to form the swath.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-nozzle extruder in an additive manufacturing system enables support structure to be formed while an object is also being formed. The method includes opening more than one nozzle in the multi-nozzle extruder, and operating an actuator with a controller to move the multi-nozzle extruder along a path to form a first group of multiple parallel ribbons of support structure simultaneously with material extruded from the more than one open nozzle.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system operates an actuator to move an extruder with reference to a selected first zig-zag pattern to sparsely fill an interior region of an object by extruding a swath of thermoplastic material that has straight portions connected by angled portions. After a first pass using the first zig-zag pattern is completed, a second zig-zag pattern is used to form a complementary swath that forms rigid structure with the first swath. Use of the two patterns is alternated to sparsely fill the interior region in multiple layers of the object until a predetermined distance from a solid fill structure or surface is detected. Transition patterns are then used to increase the density of the swaths in the interior region in the next successive layers of the object until the layer is reached where a solid fill surface is formed over the swaths formed using the transition patterns.

Abstract: A process including providing a substantially flat printed image on a substrate; disposing a curable gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image, successively depositing additional amounts of the gellant composition to create a raised image in registration with the printed image; and curing the deposited raised image. A process including providing a printed image on a substrate; disposing a curable non-gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image; and disposing a curable gellant composition onto the printed image in registration with the printed image; to create a raised image in registration with the printed image; and curing the deposited raised image. An ultraviolet curable phase change gellant composition including a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer, a photoinitiator, a silicone polymer or pre-polymer, and a gellant.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the second surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate p

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a sensor array arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the first surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate pr

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a hydrophobic material in a substrate includes a first roller, second roller that engages the first roller to form a nip, a heater operatively connected to the first roller and configured to heat the first roller to a first temperature that is greater than a second temperature of the second roller, and a substrate transport configured to move a substrate through the nip at a predetermined velocity. The first roller engages a first side of the substrate and the second roller engages a second side of the substrate to enable the hydrophobic material to penetrate into the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a hydrophobic material in a substrate includes a first roller, second roller that engages the first roller to form a nip, a heater operatively connected to the first roller and configured to heat the first roller to a first temperature that is greater than a second temperature of the second roller, and a substrate transport configured to move a substrate through the nip at a predetermined velocity. The first roller engages a first side of the substrate and the second roller engages a second side of the substrate to enable the hydrophobic material to penetrate into the substrate.