Abstract: Provided are a system, method and computer program product for generating three dimensional models for use by an additive manufacturing or 3D printing system, in which object model data defining one or more objects to be built by a three-dimensional printing apparatus is input and used to generate a three dimensional model for a protective structure to surround the one or more objects. A user is provided with selectable configuration options for the protective structure. The method includes presenting, via a user interface, selectable configuration options for a protective structure to be built around the one or more objects by the three-dimensional printing apparatus. In response to user selection of one or more configuration options via the user interface, a three dimensional model for the protective structure is automatically generated.

Abstract: In an example, a method comprises dispensing a first print agent onto a layer of build material in an additive manufacturing apparatus. The additive manufacturing apparatus may have a first print bar and a second print bar. The method may comprise determining a pattern of a first print agent to be applied to a layer of build material, dispensing a first portion of the determined pattern of the first print agent onto the layer of build material from the first print bar and dispensing a second portion of the determined pattern onto the layer of build material from the second print bar.

Abstract: A method is described in which model data describing a three-dimensional object is received. A first offset is applied to a surface of the object, the first offset being applied to the model data. The model data is converted to voxel data, and a second offset is applied to the surface of the object, the second offset being applied to the voxel data.

Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a machine-readable storage medium storing machine-readable instructions executable by the processor. The processor is to create a 3D print job defining a spatial arrangement of objects to be printed such that each object or each object portion is arranged in a region or regions having a build material layer thickness corresponding to a user-specified build material layer thickness and such that objects or object portions having different build material layer thicknesses are arranged in different regions. Different build material layer thicknesses may be user-specified for different objects or different object portions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which print instructions for a 3D print job are received which including a plurality of layers to be printed on a layer-by-layer basis to form a 3D object. The print instructions are executed using at least one nozzle whilst performing a nozzle test in a plurality of layers of the 3D print job. The nozzle test results for each layer of the plurality of layers is compared to stored nozzle data. A current nozzle health status is determined based upon the comparison. A corrective action is triggered if the health status is non-compliant with a pre-determined threshold. An apparatus and a machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of printing an envelope for encapsulating at least one 3D printed object, the envelope allowing for removal of the at least one 3D printed object from an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising: monitoring a printing queue for one or more print jobs; determining a size of at least one dimension of the envelope based on the size of the one or more queued print jobs; commencing printing of the one or more queued print jobs and the envelope; and varying the size of the at least one dimension in response to changes in one or more print jobs in the printing queue.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, at least one processor, voxelised object model data describing at least part of an intended fabrication chamber content to be generated using additive manufacturing. The voxelised object model data may be derived from a first data set modelling a first object as 2D slices and a second data set modelling a second object as a 3D mesh. Data within the voxelised object model data which is derived from the first data set may be identified, and a geometrical transformation may be applied thereto.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving, by at least one processor, object model data describing a first object to be generated in additive manufacturing and an intended object generation location of the first object, wherein the intended object generation location is a relative location within a generic fabrication chamber. The method may further comprise determining, by at least one processor, a location for generation of the first object in a first fabrication chamber, wherein the first fabrication chamber is an intended fabrication chamber of object generation. The location may be an absolute location in the first fabrication chamber which corresponds to the relative location within the generic fabrication chamber.

Abstract: A method of producing a shell layer of an output item in an additive manufacturing process comprises forming a first laterally intermittent shell layer (74) and at least one subsequent laterally intermittent shell layer (76), wherein each laterally intermittent shell layer (74,76) at least partially overlaps and joins with at least one of the other laterally intermittent shell layers.

Abstract: Object model data is obtained, defining an object to be generated by a three-dimensional printer. An envelope is obtained within which the object is to be generated, the envelope having a main section and at least one of a base and/or a lid, and printer control data is generated comprising build data to control a three-dimensional printer to generate the object and the envelope and a build mode data, wherein the printer control data comprises instructions to cause a three-dimensional printer to generate a build layer of the base and/or lid of the envelope using a first build mode, and to generate the object using a second build mode. The first build mode uses an extended time-per-build-layer for the generating of the build layer of the base and/or lid of the envelope compared with the second build mode.

Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a machine-readable storage medium storing machine-readable instructions executable by the processor. The processor is to create a 3D print job defining a spatial arrangement of objects to be printed such that each object or each object portion is arranged in a region or regions having a build material layer thickness corresponding to a user-specified build material layer thickness and such that objects or object portions having different build material layer thicknesses are arranged in different regions. Different build material layer thicknesses may be user-specified for different objects or different object portions.