Abstract: An example method to remove build material from a container is described. In that example a pulsed gas flow may be induced in a conduit to aspirate build material in pulses from the container.

Abstract: A build material management system for a 3D printing system is described in which one or more input ports of a housing of the build material management system is to connect to one or more respective transportable containers. The transportable containers contain a volume of build material comprising 3D printed parts and a portion of non-fused build material. A pump also comprised within the housing is operable to provide a pressure differential across a conduit network of the build material management system. The pump is connected to the input port(s) by the conduit network. An air-flow caused through at least one of the one or more input ports is controlled by processing circuitry also comprised within the housing. The air-flow causes cooling within the respective transportable container. In one alternative, the housing comprises at least two input ports.

Abstract: An example method to remove build material from a container is described. In that example a pulsed gas flow may be induced in a conduit to aspirate build material in pulses from the container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of cooling a bed of build material 12, 14 generated by additive manufacture. A container 10 containing a bed of build material may be provided, the bed having a hot region relative to ambient temperature. The container may be vibrated to fluidize unfused build material 12 in the container so as to cause convection of the unfused build material to cool the hot region. There is also disclosed a method of cooling a bed of build material 12, 14 including vibration when the temperature of a hot region in the bed of build material is higher than an unpacking threshold. There is also disclosed a cooling apparatus for cooling a bed of build material by vibration.

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional (3D) printing is provided. Print data is received, which defines patterns of at least one agent to be applied to a layer of build material. The print data is modified to add a further pattern of a detailing agent to be selectively applied to the layer of build material to generate fracture regions in a processed volume of build material.

Abstract: In an example, a data unit includes a data unit mounting having a circuitry region, a registration portion, and a retaining feature. Circuitry comprising a data source to provide at least one additive manufacturing parameter is arranged on the circuitry region of the mounting. The data unit mounting is to be removably mounted on a receiving portion of an additive manufacturing build material component, such that the registration portion is to be received in a corresponding guide portion of the receiving portion of the additive manufacturing build material component, and the retaining feature is prevent removal of the data unit from the receiving portion unless deformed. Deformation of the retaining feature to effect removal of the data unit from the receiving portion may be a permanent deformation.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing build-material container comprises a reservoir to hold build material, a build-material outlet structure to allow build material to exit the reservoir through an outlet opening in a top portion of the reservoir, a longitudinal collection unit (313a) to collect build material from the bottom and guide the build material to the outlet opening at the top, and bottom-venting structure to admit vent gas into a bottom portion of the reservoir. The bottom-venting structure may include a vent tube to admit venting gas into the bottom portion of the reservoir. A concentric collection tube structure may be employed including the longitudinal collection tube nested within a vent tube (333A, 354A). The concentric collection tube structure may be mounted along the central axis of the reservoir.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatuses for 3D printing post-processing. The methods and apparatuses provide a container for an additive manufacturing system, the container for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material. The container comprises a connector for connecting the container to a pressure source, and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the container. When the connector is connected to the pressure source, air flows through the container between the connector and the at least one air hole so as to remove unfused build material from the container and to help cool the volume of build material.

Abstract: A build material management apparatus for a three dimensional printing system is provided having a plurality of conduits to connect to a respective plurality of ports of at least one build material container. Processing circuitry is provided to control coupling of a 5 pump interface to the plurality of conduits to independently set, for at least two of the plurality of conduits, a given air flow parameter for cooling build material in the at least one build material container. A build material container and machine executable instructions are also provided.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing build-material container (201) comprises a reservoir to hold build material, an outlet opening in a top portion of the reservoir, an outlet tube structure including a longitudinal collection unit to collect build material from the bottom and guide the build material to the outlet opening at the top, upon application of a suction force at the other end thereof, and to guide the collected build material to the outlet opening at the top; and a vent opening in a top portion of the reservoir to admit gas from outside the reservoir into the reservoir to follow a gas flow path through the vent opening, through the reservoir and into the one end of the longitudinal collection tube; wherein on the gas flow path there is at least one turbulent gas-flow-generation feature (237) to generate turbulent gas flow in a region that is within the reservoir and outside the longitudinal collection tube.

Abstract: There is provided a build material source container for use in a material management station of a three dimensional, 3D, printer. The source container defines a substantially enclosed space for holding build material and has an aperture for build material ingress and egress. At least part of the build material source container is formed from an electrically conductive material. The conductive material portion of the build material source container is connectable to Earth to discharge static electricity generated within the build material source container.

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional (3D) printing is provided. Print data is received, which defines patterns of at least one agent to be applied to a layer of build material. These patterns are at least partially based on a 3D model of at least one object to be generated. The print data print data is processed to determine regions which are distant from said patterns. The print data is modified to add a further pattern of a detailing agent to be selectively applied to the layer of build material to generate fracture regions in a processed volume of build material.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatuses for 3D printing post-processing. The methods and apparatuses provide a container for an additive manufacturing system, the container for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material. The container comprises a connector for connecting the container to a pressure source, and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the container. When the connector is connected to the pressure source, there is generated a flow of air through the container between the connector and the at least one air hole so as to remove unfused build material from the container and to help cool the volume of build material.

Abstract: In one example, a holder for a media roll includes a first support to support a first end of the roll, a second support to support a second end of the roll, and a shifter to change the distance between the first support and the first end of the roll without changing the distance between the second support and the second end of the roll.

Abstract: A build material management apparatus for a three dimensional printing system is provided having a plurality of conduits to connect to a respective plurality of ports of at least one build material container. Processing circuitry is provided to control coupling of a 5 pump interface to the plurality of conduits to independently set, for at least two of the plurality of conduits, a given air flow parameter for cooling build material in the at least one build material container. A build material container and machine executable instructions are also provide.

Abstract: A build material management system for a 3D printing system is described in which one or more input ports of a housing of the build material management system is to connect to one or more respective transportable containers. The transportable containers contain a volume of build material comprising 3D printed parts and a portion of non-fused build material. A pump also comprised within the housing is operable to provide a pressure differential across a conduit network of the build material management system. The pump is connected to the input port(s) by the conduit network. An air-flow caused through at least one of the one or more input ports is controlled by processing circuitry also comprised within the housing. The air-flow causes cooling within the respective transportable container. In one alternative, the housing comprises at least two input ports.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing build-material container (201) comprises a reservoir to hold build material, an outlet opening in a top portion of the reservoir, an outlet tube structure including a longitudinal collection unit to collect build material from the bottom and guide the build material to the outlet opening at the top, upon application of a suction force at the other end thereof, and to guide the collected build material to the outlet opening at the top; and a vent opening in a top portion of the reservoir to admit gas from outside the reservoir into the reservoir to follow a gas flow path through the vent opening, through the reservoir and into said one end of the longitudinal collection tube; wherein on said gas flow path there is at least one turbulent-gas-flow-generation feature (237) to generate turbulent gas flow in a region that is within the reservoir and outside the longitudinal collection tube.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing build-material container comprises a reservoir to hold build material, a build-material outlet structure to allow build material to exit the reservoir through an outlet opening in a top portion of the reservoir, a longitudinal collection unit (313a) to collect build material from the bottom and guide the build material to the outlet opening at the top, and bottom-venting structure to admit vent gas into a bottom portion of the reservoir. The bottom-venting structure may include a vent tube to admit venting gas into the bottom portion of the reservoir. A concentric collection tube structure may be employed including the longitudinal collection tube nested within a vent tube (333A, 354A). The concentric collection tube structure may be mounted along the central axis of the reservoir.

Abstract: In an example, a data unit includes a data unit mounting having a circuitry region, a registration portion, and a retaining feature. Circuitry comprising a data source to provide at least one additive manufacturing parameter is arranged on the circuitry region of the mounting. The data unit mounting is to be removably mounted on a receiving portion of an additive manufacturing build material component, such that the registration portion is to be received in a corresponding guide portion of the receiving portion of the additive manufacturing build material component, and the retaining feature is prevent removal of the data unit from the receiving portion unless deformed. Deformation of the retaining feature to effect removal of the data unit from the receiving portion may be a permanent deformation.

Abstract: There is provided a build material source container for use in a material management station of a three dimensional, 3D, printer. The source container defines a substantially enclosed space for holding build material and has an aperture for build material ingress and egress. At least part of the build material source container is formed from an electrically conductive material. The conductive material portion of the build material source container is connectable to Earth to discharge static electricity generated within the build material source container.