Abstract: A variety of computer automated tools are disclosed to assist consumers with using three-dimensional printers. Where a user also has access to a three-dimensional scanner, the tools may also support automated modifications to scanned subject matter.

Abstract: A variety of computer automated tools are disclosed to assist consumers with using three-dimensional printers. Where a user also has access to a three-dimensional scanner, the tools may also support automated modifications to scanned subject matter.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer is configured to fill interior cavities of a fabricated object with functional or aesthetic materials during fabrication. In general, a number of layers can be fabricated with an infill pattern that leaves void space within an exterior surface of the object. These void spaces can receive a second material such as an epoxy or adhesive that spans multiple layers of the object to increase structural integrity. Similarly, aesthetic materials may be used to add color, opacity or other desired properties to a fabricated object. The void spaces can also or instead form molds that are filled with a build material to provide a fabricated object.

Abstract: A bearing that provides contact force to engage a filament with a drive gear has a movable axis that can be controllably moved toward and away from the drive gear in order to engage and disengage the filament. A bearing is spring-biased toward the drive gear, and a bistable lever mechanism is provided with a first stable position in which the bearing is engaged with a filament and a second stable position in which the bearing is disengaged from the filament. By providing a mechanism that locks in both positions, loading and unloading of filament can be facilitated.

Abstract: A supply of build material such as a spool or cartridge is instrumented with a data tag that includes information about the build material. A three-dimensional printer can read the information from the tag and determine how to use the build material during fabrication of a three-dimensional object.

Abstract: An extruder or other tool head of a three-dimensional printer is instrumented to detect contact force against the extruder, such as by a build platform or an object being fabricated. The tool head may also be instrumented to detect deflection forces and the like acting on the tool that might indicate an operating error. The resulting feedback data can be used in a variety of ways to control operation of the three-dimensional printer during fabrication or diagnostics.

Abstract: A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.

Abstract: By reversing the direction of a first build material fed into an extruder, the first build material can be wholly or partially evacuated from the extruder before a second material is introduced. This approach mitigates transition artifacts and permits faster, more complete changes from one build material to another.

Abstract: An additive three-dimensional fabrication process is improved by controlling deposition rate to obtain surface textures or other surface features below the nominal processing resolution of fabrication hardware. Sub-resolution information may be obtained, for example, from express metadata (such as for surface texture), or by interpolating data from a source digital model.

Abstract: A conveyor or other transport mechanism is provided to support multiple, sequential builds from a three-dimensional fabrication machine. The conveyor may be heated/cooled, coated, or otherwise treated to assist in adhesion during a build, as well as removal of objects after a build. Each fabricated object may be automatically removed from the conveyor as the conveyor moves in order to restore a buildable surface for fabrication of additional objects.

Abstract: An extruder for a three-dimension printer uses a printed circuit board (PCB) heating element with leads having temperature-sensitive resistance. The resulting circuit can be driven at high power to heat an extruder, or at a low power with a known current to measure a resistance from which temperature can be inferred. Thus a single circuit on a printed circuit board can be driven alternately in two modes to heat and sense temperature of an extruder.

Abstract: A variety of techniques are disclosed for incorporating displays into three-dimensional printers.

Abstract: A three dimensional printer with a removable, replaceable extrusion nozzle is disclosed.

Abstract: A photo booth is configured with a three-dimensional scanner, a display with a user interface coupled to the photo booth, a network interface configured to couple the photo booth in a communicating relationship with a remote processing resource, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to associate a user identifier and a user with a subject, capture a scan of the subject in the photo booth with the three-dimensional scanner, process the scan to obtain a three-dimensional model of the subject, receive a user customization of the three-dimensional model in the user interface, the user customization resulting in a modification of the three-dimensional model, create a fabrication-ready digital model of the three-dimensional model including the modification, and store the fabrication-ready digital model.

Abstract: A variety of computer automated tools are disclosed to assist consumers with using three-dimensional printers. Where a user also has access to a three-dimensional scanner, the tools may also support automated modifications to scanned subject matter.

Abstract: A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.

Abstract: A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.

Abstract: A source model describing a modeled object is identified. A preliminary fabrication model is automatically identified from the source model. A structural analysis of the fabrication model is automatically performed, resulting in the identification of a critical point and a corresponding failure mode at the critical point. The preliminary fabrication model is automatically modified to adjust the structural integrity of the modeled object with respect to the failure mode at the critical point, thereby producing an updated fabrication model. The object is printed on a three dimensional printer using the updated fabrication model.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer includes a laser line scanner and hardware to rotate the scanner relative to an object on a build platform. In this configuration, three-dimensional surface data can be obtained from the object, e.g., for use as an input to subsequent processing steps such as the generation of tool instructions to fabricate a three-dimensional copy of the object, or various surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A variety of techniques are disclosed for visual and functional augmentation of a three-dimensional printer.