Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by ejecting a shaping material to a stage and stacking layers according to a path including multiple partial paths is provided.

Abstract: A circuit board and component fabrication apparatus comprises a print head configured to deposit one or more materials on a substrate so as to print electronic circuit boards and/or components.

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques that address one or more drawbacks of laser-based optical systems in additive fabrication devices are described. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may include one or more variable focus lenses that may be operated (e.g., actuated) during fabrication to adjust the focus, and thereby the spot size, of a laser beam. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a laser array, such as a plurality of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), that may be operated to direct light into a build region, rather than using a single laser beam, such as a single diode laser. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a container that includes a flexible display film, such as a flexible LCD screen, which may be operated to direct light into the container to thereby cure a liquid photopolymer therein.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method and system comprising: a nozzle having a nozzle sidewall defining a central channel for allowing a deposition material filament to be dispensed therethrough on a workpiece; a heat source operatively coupled to the nozzle for melting the deposition material filament dispensed through the nozzle to form an additive material layer on a top surface of the workpiece; and an ultrasonic wave generator for providing ultrasonic waves into the melted deposition material in order to break up the oxide layer around the melted deposition material and bond the additive material layer to the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of metal additive manufacturing includes generating a plurality of laser beams and directing the plurality of laser beams to selected portions of a surface of a powder bed of powdered metal. The method also includes monitoring the powder bed while performing the generating and directing, and adjusting at least one of the generating or directing based on the monitoring.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

Abstract: A 3D printing method providing an improved manufacturing process by providing a plurality of layers forming at least a part of the component, wherein the plurality of layers contains at least one first layer part and at least one second layer part, wherein the at least one first layer part and the at least one second layer part have been manufactured with different manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: A material drop ejecting three-dimensional (3D) object printer identifies a time lag error corresponding to a time lag in the response of printer components to component commands. The identified time lag error is provided to a slicer program that uses the identified time lag error to compensate for the time lag in the response of the printer components.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for. One embodiment is a system that includes an interface configured to receive an image of media printed on with print data, and memory configured to store defect reference data of nozzles belonging to printheads of a printer. The system also includes a print defect controller configured to detect a nozzle defect in the image based on a comparison of the image with the print data, and to determine a type of the nozzle defect based on a comparison of the nozzle defect with the defect reference data.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes receiving object model data representing at least a portion of an object that is to be generated by an additive manufacturing apparatus by fusing build material within a fabrication chamber. At least one of a number of different geometrical compensation models to be applied to the object model data may be selected, where the geometrical compensation models are to determine geometrical compensations to compensate for object deformation in additive manufacturing. An object generation operation based on a modification of the object model data using the or each selected geometrical compensation mode may be simulated and predicted attributes of the object when generated based on the or each simulation may be displayed.

Abstract: A method and a device for acquiring a volume of a structure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and a printer are provided. The method includes for a model placed on a specified plane, determining at least one reference plane in a direction parallel to the specified plane. The method also includes for the at least one reference plane, obtaining at least one vertical projection area by acquiring a vertical projection area of the model above each reference plane projected on a corresponding reference plane. Further, the method includes according to the at least one vertical projection area, obtaining a total volume; and according to the total volume and a volume of the model, obtaining the volume of the supporting structure of the model.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a resin vessel, a support plate, a light engine, a build tray, motorized support, and a controller. The resin vessel includes a vessel body defining a central opening and a transparent sheet that closes the central opening. The transparent sheet is at least partially formed from a cast polypropylene (CPP). The support plate is for supporting the resin vessel and includes a rigid transparent central portion for supporting the transparent sheet. The light engine is configured to project pixelated light to a build plane within the resin. The build tray defines a support surface for supporting the three-dimensional article to be at least partially submerged in the resin. The motorized support is configured to align and adjust a vertical position of the build tray. The controller is for controlling the light engine and the motorized support for fabricating the three-dimensional article.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: determining a material transition between a first machine control code and a second machine control code in a set of machine control codes; determining a material transition time for the determined material transition between the first machine control code and the second machine control code; determining a motion time from the first machine control code and the second machine control code; comparing the material transition time to the motion time; and manipulating the set of machine control codes based on the comparison.

Abstract: Examples of a thermal behavior prediction method are described herein. In some examples of the thermal behavior prediction method, a predicted heat map of a layer corresponding to a three-dimensional (3D) model is computed using at least one neural network. The predicted heat map is computed based on a contone map corresponding to the 3D model.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and computer program product for generating a three-dimensional (3D) printable file of a complete object by re-assembling pieces of a broken object using generative adversarial network techniques. A processor may generate a 3D scan of each piece of a plurality of pieces of a broken object. The processor may assemble the 3D scan of each piece of the plurality of pieces to generate a re-assembled object, where the re-assembled object includes one or more gaps. The processor may fill the one or more gaps in the re-assembled object to create a complete object. The processor may generate a 3D printable file of the complete object.

Abstract: In one example, a 3D printing system includes a support structure generator to identify a breakaway support to temporarily support part of the object, to design a wedge shaped groove between a portion of the object and the support, the groove ending at a line along which the support intersects the object, and to generate a digital object model that includes the support and the groove. The system also includes a 3D printer to print the object, support and groove based on the object model.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composite material layer including a core layer and a shell layer. The core layer includes foamed elastomers. The shell layer encapsulates the core layer and continuously covered surfaces of the foamed elastomers, wherein the shell layer includes a material having light absorption. The melting point of the core layer is higher than the melting point of the shell layer.

Abstract: A method is provided, performed by at least one apparatus, the method including: obtaining probe data including a plurality of probe samples of a multi-dimensional probe sample space, the probe data being representative of a potentially multi-modal traffic scenario; performing a cluster analysis for at least a part of the probe samples of the probe data, the cluster analysis including: associating at least a part of the probe samples with respective clusters, each cluster being representative of a mode of the potentially multi-modal traffic scenario.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing device includes a recoater configured to push powder onto a build platform. The recoater defines an advancing direction for pushing powder. A gas mover is mounted to the recoater and is configured to flow gas to remove powder from the build platform as the recoater moves along the advancing direction.

Abstract: A layered modeling method for laser metal deposition (LIVID) 3D printing. The layered modeling method includes: obtaining estimated printing parameters of each layer in an entire digital model based on a process database; obtaining estimated feature points of each layer through the estimated parameters; comparing estimated feature points of each layer with feature points of a corresponding actual shape to obtain a difference in each layer; and accumulating to obtain a difference in the entire digital model to obtain corresponding printing parameters. The layered modeling method has the advantages of effectively reducing the calculation amount during data comparison and greatly saving time.

Abstract: Examples of methods for monitoring additive manufacturing by an electronic device are described herein. In some examples, a predicted thermal image is calculated for a layer. In some examples, a captured thermal image is obtained for the layer. In some examples, a risk score is calculated for the layer based on the predicted thermal image and the captured thermal image. In some examples, a mitigation operation is performed in response to determining that the risk score is outside of a threshold range.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system configured to: during a first build cycle of an additive manufacturing process for manufacturing a first layer of a build, sampling a first set of sensor data streams via the sensor suite; calculate a first likelihood of failure of the build based on the first set of sensor data streams; in response to calculating the first likelihood of failure within a first likelihood range, flag the build to indicate the first likelihood of failure; and in response to calculating the first likelihood of failure within a second likelihood range greater than the first likelihood range, pause the additive manufacturing process, and notify an operator of the additive manufacturing system of the first likelihood of failure.

Abstract: An extruder of a three-dimensional printer may be coupled with one or more filament tubes, each filament tube having its own supply of filament. The extruder may include a drive gear rotatable in a first direction to advance a filament from a filament tube toward at least one extrusion opening defined by the extruder and rotatable in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to advance another filament from a different filament tube toward the at least one extrusion opening defined by the extruder. Also, as one filament is advanced by the drive gear, another filament may be retracted by the drive gear to improve the switching of filaments in a three-dimensional printing process. The extruder may work in conjunction with a filament supply-side drive system that feeds filament into one or more filament tubes, reducing a pull force exerted by the drive gear of the extruder.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise deposition of a building material with an inkjet printing system comprising a print head and a building tray, comprises calculating a weighting value for each nozzle, then for each layer obtaining a 2-D map of the layer, comprising active pixels at building material dispensing positions; obtaining a Data Correction Filter (DCF) including a height map of the previous layer, comparing the data of the 2D map to the data of the DCF at each position and determining if the nozzle at that position should dispense, then printing the layer, updating the weighting values and adjusting the position of the print head vis a vis the printing tray. The above is repeated until the three-dimensional object is printed.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a conformal manufacture method for 3D printing with high-viscosity material. The method comprises the steps: using 3D design software to design a 3D model of a component and a conformal contactless support; importing the 3D model data of the component and the conformal contactless support into slice software; importing multiple slice data of the component and the conformal contactless support into a 3D printing device, and sequentially scanning a high-viscosity material by laser till completing the printing; and removing the support and the uncured materials to finally obtain the component. The support and the component to be manufactured are easy to be separated, and no trace is left on the surface of the component. The present disclosure provides a conformal contactless support method for manufacturing a component having a complex bottom surface structure by using a 3D printing technology, and has a wide application prospect in the field of 3D manufacture.

Abstract: A dispensing system for an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a frame, a powder reservoir, an agitator and an array of dispensing units positioned below the powder reservoir. The powder reservoir has a first width along a primary axis, and includes a lower portion and an upper portion that is wider than the lower portion along a second axis perpendicular to the primary axis. The agitator is positioned in the upper portion of the powder reservoir. Each dispensing unit includes a nozzle block that has a passage therethrough that defines a nozzle and provides a respective path for the powder to flow from the powder reservoir to the nozzle, and a valve positioned in the passage in the nozzle block to controllably release powder through the nozzle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing additive process parameters for an additive manufacturing process. In some embodiments, the process includes receiving initial additive process parameters, generating an uninformed design of experiment utilizing a specified sampling protocol, next generating, based on the uninformed design of experiment, response data, and then generating, based on the response data and on previous design of experiment that includes at least one of the uninformed design of experiment and informed design of experiment, an informed design of experiment by using the machine learning model and the intelligent sampling protocol. The last process step is repeated until a specified objective is reached or satisfied.

Abstract: Aspects described herein provide a method including: receiving layer data for a part to be additively manufactured, wherein the layer data comprises a plurality of deposition locations; for each respective deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations: determining a surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; determining a direction of travel vector based on the respective deposition location and at least one other deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations; determining a tool vector for the respective deposition location based on the direction of travel vector for the respective deposition location and the surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; manipulating a movable element of the additive manufacturing machine to align with the tool vector for the respective deposition location; and depositing material of the part at the respective deposition location.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing parts having improved functional properties such as conductivity and absorption are fabricated with a fused filament fabrication process to have a contiguous path of functional nanomaterial embedded within the parts. A first heated filament consisting of a primary polymer material is deposited through a first nozzle and a second heated filament including a secondary polymer material filled with functional nanomaterial is deposited through a second nozzle in one or more layers to form a fabricated additive manufacturing part having at least one void. The second heated filament is embedded within the primary polymer material. A section of the fabricated additive manufacturing part where the secondary polymer material is located is selectively melted and an external isostatic pressure is applied to the fabricated additive manufacturing part to diffuse the secondary polymer material into the void and form a contiguous path of functional nanomaterial within the additive manufacturing parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print head (10) for a 3D printer (1), comprising a feed zone (11) with a feed (12) for feedstock (20) with variable viscosity, a melting zone (14) comprising a heating element (15) and an outlet opening (16) for the liquid phase (22) of said feedstock (20), as well as a conveyor device (30) for conveying the feedstock (20) from the feed zone (11) into the melting zone (14), said conveyor device (30) comprising a plunger (31) that can be inserted into said feed zone (11).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are at least partially water soluble compositions for use in 3D printing. The compositions comprise a mixture of polymeric materials that can be printed using existing 3D printing devices to form a support scaffold for overhanging parts of a 3D object to be printed. The 3D object can be printed such that at least a portion of the 3D object is printed onto the support scaffold. After printing, the support scaffold can be removed from the 3D object by treatment with water, such as by immersion in water. The compositions can comprise a mixture of one or more water soluble polymers and one or more water insoluble polymers.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to production of amorphous alloys having compositions of iron, chromium, molybdenum, carbon and boron for usage in additive manufacturing, such as in layer-by-layer deposition to produce multi-functional parts. Such parts demonstrate ultra-high strength without sacrificing toughness and also maintain the amorphous structure of the materials during and after manufacturing processes. An Amorphous alloy composition has a formula Fe100-(a+b+c+d)CraMobCcBd, wherein a, b, c and d represent an atomic percentage, wherein: a is in the range of 10 at. % to 35 at. %; b is in the range of 10 at. % to 20 at. %; c is in the range of 2 at. % to 5 at. %; and d is in the range of 0.5% at. % to 3.5 at. %.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite part using a 3D printing machine. The method includes forming a support structure by depositing consecutive support structure layers including rows of filaments made of a support structure material from the machine on a build plate, smoothing out a top surface of the support structure after it is formed, and forming the part by depositing consecutive part layers including rows of filaments made of a part material from the machine on the support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming a dimensionally stable, three-dimensional object (12) by consecutively or continuously applying and hardening a shapeable printing material (89).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of manufacturing electronics without PCBs and an apparatus for manufacturing electronics without PCBs.

Abstract: A method and printing system for printing a three-dimensional structure, in particular an optical component, by depositing droplets of printing ink side by side and one above the other in several consecutive depositing steps by means of a print head. In each depositing step a plurality of droplets is ejected simultaneously by a plurality of ejection nozzles of the print head. After at least one depositing step, surface properties of a pre-structure built up by the deposited droplets are measured by a measuring unit in a measuring step. Ejection characteristics of the ejection nozzles are determined in dependency of the measured surface properties in a determining step and at least one following depositing step is performed in dependency of the determined ejection characteristics.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of forming a layer of build material on a build platform of a three-dimensional printing system. The method comprises obtaining characteristics of a build volume to be processed, determining characteristics of a volume of build material to be used to form the layer, forming an intermediate volume of build material having the determined characteristics, and spreading the intermediate volume of build material over the build platform to form the layer.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an additive manufacturing engine and an input to receive a plurality of part files to create a plurality of parts. Each part file includes a description of a part to be created by the additive manufacturing engine. A processor interprets a part file to read the description of the part from the part file, stores at least a portion of the description of the part, and repeats the interpretation and storing for each of the received part files. A job composer generates a manufacturing job using the stored descriptions and using characteristics of the additive manufacturing engine, and provides the generated manufacturing job to the additive manufacturing engine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicle-to-vehicle communication are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes: receiving, from a first vehicle via a network, a request for communicating with another vehicle; receiving, via the network, a first position signal from the first vehicle; determining a position of the first vehicle based on the first position signal; determining a target vehicle of the request, based on the request and the position of the first vehicle; transmitting, via the network, the request to the target vehicle; determining whether the target vehicle drives according to the request; and adding an amount of credit to an account associated with the target vehicle when it is determined that the target vehicle drives according to the request.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system configured to: during a first build cycle of an additive manufacturing process for manufacturing a first layer of a build, sampling a first set of sensor data streams via the sensor suite; calculate a first likelihood of failure of the build based on the first set of sensor data streams; in response to calculating the first likelihood of failure within a first likelihood range, flag the build to indicate the first likelihood of failure; and in response to calculating the first likelihood of failure within a second likelihood range greater than the first likelihood range, pause the additive manufacturing process, and notify an operator of the additive manufacturing system of the first likelihood of failure.

Abstract: Set differences between an as-designed and an as-manufactured model are computed. Discrepancies between the as-designed model and the as-manufactured model are determined based under-deposition and over-deposition features of the set differences. Based on the discrepancies, an input to a manufacturing instrument is changed to reduce topological differences between the as-manufactured model and the as-designed model.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes: forming first and second linear beads parallel to each other under a same predetermined formation condition such that a gap having a predetermined width is formed between the first and second linear beads; forming a third linear bead in the gap under the same formation condition; forming, after forming the third linear bead, the linear bead that is formed as an even-numbered line under the formation condition such that the linear bead is parallel to the first linear bead and a gap having a predetermined width is formed between the linear bead formed as an even-numbered line and a linear bead formed two lines before; and forming, after forming the third linear bead, the linear bead that is formed as an odd-numbered line in the gap between the linear bead formed immediately before and the linear bead formed three lines before under the formation condition.

Abstract: A hybrid additive manufacturing system a build chamber, a polymer additive manufacturing system housed within the build chamber and a physical vapor deposition (PVD) system housed within the build chamber. A controller is configured to issue control signals to the polymer additive manufacturing system and PVD system for layered deposition of polymer and PVD layers in a multilayer part.

Abstract: An automated manufacturing system includes two simultaneous and independently operating toolheads accessing any location within the same work volume, with the exception of locations in proximity to each other. The system includes a bed platform connected with X and Y linear axes. A ? rotational axis rotates the bed and its linear axes as a unit. A first toolhead has a fixed position relative to the ? axis, and a second toolhead is coupled with a linear R axis parallel to the bed. The bed X and Y axes move the bed relative to the first toolhead, enabling the first toolhead to reach any portion of the bed. The R linear axis and ? rotational axis allow the second toolhead to move almost anywhere in a circular area that is always centered near the first toolhead. The system's kinematics ensure that it is impossible for the toolheads to collide.

Abstract: An extruder or other similar tool head of a three-dimensional printer is slidably mounted along a feedpath of build material so that the extruder can move into and out of contact with a build surface according to whether build material is being extruded. The extruder may be spring-biased against the forward feedpath so that the extruder remains above the build surface in the absence of applied forces, and then moves downward into a position for extrusion when build material is fed into the extruder. In another aspect, modular tool heads are disclosed that can be automatically coupled to and removed from the three-dimensional printer by a suitable robotics system. A tool crib may be provided to store multiple tool heads while not in use.

Abstract: A low compressive force filament drive system for use with an additive manufacturing system includes a plurality of drives spaced from each other. Each drive includes a first rotatable shaft and a second rotatable shaft engaged with the first rotatable shaft in a counter rotational configuration. The filament drive system includes a pair of drive wheel, each fixedly attached to a shaft and comprising a groove about a circumference having a substantially smooth surface and positioned on opposing sides of a filament path with a gap therebetween so as to frictionally engage a filament provided in the filament path. The drive includes one or more bridge shafts, wherein each bridge shaft is configured to rotatably couple the adjacent drives of the plurality of drives, wherein the shafts are configured to be directly or indirectly driven by a motor.

Abstract: A map points-of-change detection device includes: a camera capturing an image of an area around a vehicle; a bird's-eye-view transformation section transforming the image into a bird's-eye view image; a map storage portion storing a road map including a road surface map; a collation processing section determining whether a point of change in the road surface map exits, the point of change being a position at which a change has occurred on an actual road surface; and a collation region identification section that determines a region for collation in a width direction of the vehicle from the bird's-eye view image.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed. The apparatus comprises a powder distributor configured for evenly distributing a layer of powder on top of a build table; an energy beam configured for fusing the powder layer in selected locations corresponding to the cross section of the three-dimensional article, the powder distributor comprises an elongated rod provided movable at a predetermined distance above the powder table and with its central axis in parallel with a top surface of the powder table, and a flexible foil attached onto the elongated rod and protruding from the rod towards the powder table; and an elongated device parallel with the powder distributor and arranged onto or over the powder table outside the build table, where the elongated device is arranged for mechanically touching the flexible foil.

Abstract: A system and method for forming 3D printed structures includes printing an outer shell portion and filling an interior of the outer shell portion to form an inner portion. The outer shell portion and inner portion may have differing material properties. The outer shell portion may be anchored to the base component.

Abstract: A system is used for additively manufacturing propellant elements, such as for rocket motors, includes partially curing a propellant mixture before extruding or otherwise dispensing the material, such that the extruded propellant material is deposited on the element in a partially-cured state. The curing process for the partially-cured extruded material may be completed shortly after the material is put into place, for example by the material being heated at or above its cure temperature, such that it finishes curing before it fully cools. The propellant material may be prepared by first mixing together, a fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, such as in an acoustic mixer. After that mixing a curative may be added to the mixture. The propellant mixture may then be directed to an extruder (or other dispenser), in which the mixture is heated to or above a cure temperature prior to the deposition, and then deposited.