Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, and a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a decreasing third diameter from the first diameter to the second diameter, and an inner surface of the transitional portion is provided with a plurality of ribs. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier tube including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a monotonically decreasing third diameter from the feeding portion to the outlet portion and the third diameter as function of a longitudinal position of the feed channel in the transitional portion between the feeding portion and the outlet portion and at a transition between the transitional portion and the outlet portion is differentiable. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A printhead assembly having connection for connecting to a positioning system of an AM system, a feedstock liquefying unit having a nozzle for depositing liquefied AM feedstock onto at least one of a build plate and an object to be created. The feedstock liquefying unit has a supply opening and a supply channel from the supply opening to the nozzle. The printhead assembly has heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly, arranged to establish a releasable clamping connection with the feedstock liquefying unit to accommodate the feedstock liquefying unit in the printhead assembly. The heat exchanging elements are actuatable to an open state, and a closed state. A system for additive manufacturing, including a build plate, a positioning system associated with at least one of the printhead assembly and the build plate, a feedstock liquefying unit storage, a controller arranged for controlling the positioning system for replacing the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing, having at least one printhead assembly that includes a feedstock liquefying unit for liquefying and depositing feedstock material via a nozzle, heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly being provided with a receiving space that is configured and arranged to receive the feedstock liquefying unit, and a connection arrangement that includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element that are configured and arranged to one of establish a releasable connection with each other and disconnect the releasable connection upon rotating the first and second connecting elements with respect to each other. The system further including a feedstock liquefying unit storage, having an actuating device that enables assembling and disassembling the connecting arrangement to automatically exchange the feedstock liquefying unit, and a controller for controlling automatic exchange of the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: Method and system arranged for obtaining an electronic 3D model of a 3D object to be fabricated. The method further including generating control instructions based on the electronic 3D model and process parameters of the fabrication process, determining a mesh model representing the electronic 3D model, the mesh model including elements each having at least one property that is affectable by at least one of the process parameters, and performing simulation of the fabrication process in time using the control instructions, the mesh model and the process parameters. The simulation includes establishing a deviation of the at least one property relative to a reference thereof for each element of the mesh model, wherein the deviation is induced by at least one of the process parameters, and establishing an adaptation for the at least one property of each element of the mesh model to compensate for the deviation.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal indicative for nozzle maintenance, including feeding modeling material through a feed channel of a printhead to a nozzle of the printhead in a three-dimensional modeling system, determining a parameter indicative of a fluid resistance of modeling material within the nozzle. Determining the parameter includes determining a flowrate of the modeling material within the feed channel, determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, determining a pressure difference between the pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and the pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, and calculating the parameter from the determined flow rate and the determined pressure difference.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling system for creating an object having a printhead having a tubular feed member and a nozzle having a nozzle outlet for dispensing modeling material. The tubular feed member having a feed channel for feeding the modeling material to the nozzle outlet. The system further having modeling material feeding means arranged at an end of the tubular feed member opposite of the nozzle, wherein the modeling material feeding means are arranged for exerting a pressure on the modeling material within the feed channel towards the nozzle. The system further having a pressure determining means for determining a first parameter indicative for a pressure exerted on the modeling material. The system further having a control system arranged for controlling the modeling material feeding means based on the determined first parameter indicative for a pressure exerted on the modeling material. A method of three-dimensional modeling using the system.