Abstract: An assembly of a pellet press and a pellet breaking device mounted on the pellet press, the pellet press being equipped with a cylindrical outer wall that is provided with a series of radial through holes with a predefined hole-diameter for radially and outwardly pressing the pellets from within the press towards and away from an outer circumferential contour of the pellet press, the breaking device shaped as a spiral encircling the pellet press at a predefined distance from the outer circumferential contour of the pellet press, the spiral spans at least a part of the outer circumferential contour of the pellet press along an area that is provided with said through holes, and the predefined distance between the spiral and the outer circumferential contour of the pellet press amounts to at least twice the pre-defined hole-diameter of the through holes.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion system is provided. The system comprises a build area with a movable build plate. Two powder overflow and extraction (POE) chambers flank the build area on opposite sides. Two dispensing chambers flank the POE chambers, opposite the build area. Two reservoir chambers flank the dispensing chambers, opposite the POE chambers. A recoater device is configured to move build material from the dispensing chambers or reservoir chambers to the build area. An energy source is configured to generate an energy beam. An energy beam positioning device is configured to selectively direct the energy beam within the build area. A controller is programmed to control, according to a 3D model of a part, the energy source, energy beam positioning device, recoater device, build plate, and vertically movable plates within the POE chambers, dispensing chambers, and reservoir chambers.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for a depowdering apparatus includes an abrasive material inlet fluidly connected to an abrasive material outlet and a fluid inlet fluidly connected to a fluid outlet, where the fluid outlet at least partially surrounds the abrasive material outlet. The fluid outlet is angled with respect to the abrasive material outlet and configured to emit a fluid stream directed to a focal point, the focal point being laterally spaced apart from the blast nozzle in a fluid flow direction.

Abstract: A powder reclamation system is provided. The powder reclamation system includes a support structure; a filter housing movable relative to the support structure, the filter housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a raw reclaimed powder hopper in communication with the inlet of the filter housing; a first reclamation passageway in communication with the raw reclaimed powder hopper and configured to be in communication with a first metal powder processing device to recover a first unused portion of a first powder from the first metal powder processing device to the raw reclaimed powder hopper; and a second reclamation passageway in communication with the raw reclaimed powder hopper and configured to be in communication with a second metal powder processing device to recover a second unused portion of a second powder from the second metal powder processing device to the raw reclaimed powder hopper.

Abstract: An object can be made one section at a time, that is layerwise, using an apparatus for making an object using a stereolithographic method. In a step of the stereolithographic method, a layer of a material used for making the object may be solidified in the shape of a section of the object. Disclosed herein is an apparatus (100) for making a stereolithographic object (122). Also disclosed herein is a method for making a stereolithographic object (122).

Abstract: An example of a three-dimensional (3D) printing kit includes a build material composition and a fusing agent to be applied to at least a portion of the build material composition during 3D printing. The build material composition includes a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer having a surface energy density greater than 41 mN/m. The fusing agent includes an energy absorber to absorb electromagnetic radiation to coalesce the semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer in the at least the portion.

Abstract: A 3D printing system can include an extruding system, curing system and feedback system. The extruding system can include a feed pipe coupled to a printing material source and a nozzle that extrudes a printed material. The feedback system can include a processor and sensors and can detect the temperature and location of the curing system during the printing process. The curing system cures the printed material after extrusion and includes curing sources coupled to a mounting arrangement, which can be a curved surface. The curing sources can each be directed toward a focal region located proximate the nozzle outlet and can combine to emit a combined curing energy to the focal region. The curing sources can be LEDs and the curing energy can be UV light. The curing system can rotate about an axis during printing and curing to facilitate rapid movement and printing of complex 3D objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for lens creations are disclosed. The method includes initiating light transmission from a light source through a diffuser into a container holding resin and a substrate. The light transmission is performed according to an irradiation pattern wherein each point in the resin is illuminated by at least 10% of the diffuser. This causes a lens to be formed. To achieve this illumination, at least 15% of the diffuser receives light from the light source. Further, a diameter of the diffuser is greater than or equal to a diameter of the substrate. The system performing the methods includes a polymerization apparatus and may include a resin conditioning and reservoir apparatus, a metrology unit, a resin drainage apparatus and an optional postcuring apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a binder jetting 3D printer capable of continuous printing, wherein a box assembly is supplied by a horizontal movement guide means, a 3D object is built with binder jetting within a build box, and the box assembly in which the 3D object is built is withdrawn, thereby printing 3D objects continuously. In particular, provided is a binder jetting 3D printer capable of continuous printing, wherein a box assembly including a powder supply box and a build box is simplified by integrating the boxes and a lifting and lowering process of a supply plate and of a build plate is facilitated, thereby reducing the time taken for a 3D printing process and thus improving productivity.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nozzle for a 3D printing system. The nozzle may include a flowpath with a material inlet and a material outlet. The nozzle may further include a valve in fluid communication with the flowpath between the material inlet and the material outlet, where the valve includes a closed state and an open state, where in the closed state the valve obstructs the flowpath between the material inlet and the material outlet, and where in the open state the material inlet is in fluid communication with the material outlet. The nozzle may further include a compensator in fluid communication with the flowpath, where the compensator includes a contracted state associated with the open state of the valve and an expanded state associated with the closed state of the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus (100) for making a stereolithographic object (122). Also disclosed herein are methods for making a stereolithographic object (122), a method for locating the position of debris, a method for characterising the viscosity of the material (104), and a method for monitoring consumption of a material (104) for making a stereolithographic object (122).

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for preparing an object made at least partially of an expanded polymer including: a printing device for transporting and depositing a strand of expanded polymer including a blowing agent onto a surface and a 3D movement device for adjusting the position of the printing device in a predefined matrix allowing deposit of the strand of expanded polymer at a predetermined time and precise position within the matrix, the printing device includes: a feed section, a transporting section, a surface melting section, and a terminal printing head section for depositing the expanded polymer strand onto the surface, and all of sections have the same inner diameter, and the surface melting section including a solid-state welding element, a laser beam, a generator of hot gas or liquid and/or a generator of heat.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a plasticizing step of plasticizing at least a part of a shaping material containing a thermoplastic resin to generate a plasticized material; a fiber introducing step including at least one of a step of introducing a covered fiber material, which is a fiber material covered with a covering material, into the plasticized material after being discharged from the nozzle opening, and a step of introducing the covered fiber material into the shaping material or the plasticized material before being discharged from the nozzle opening; and a shaping step of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object including the covered fiber material.

Abstract: A filled self-cured dental material is described comprising inorganic boron nitride and/or zirconia particles in a solvent dispersion agent, the nanoparticles being entrained by an ultrasonic homogenizer technique to enhance both strength and stiffness of the dental material.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system includes a resin vessel, a fabrication subsystem, a waste collection subsystem, and a controller. The resin vessel is configured to contain photocurable resin. The fabrication subsystem is configured to form the 3D article with layer-by-layer selective curing of the photocurable resin. The fabrication subsystem includes a build plate, a build plate support structure, and a vertical movement mechanism. The waste collection subsystem is attached to the build plate support structure and configured to capture partially polymerized resin as the build plate support structure moves in an upward direction. The controller is configured to (a) operate the vertical movement mechanism to translate the build plate support structure to a lower position and (b) operate the vertical movement mechanism to raise the waste collection subsystem up through the resin and to a position at which partially polymerized resin can be unloaded from the waste collection subsystem.

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are provided to mitigate challenges with additive fabrication devices that utilize a film. These techniques include: improvements to an additive fabrication device build platform to more evenly apply forces onto the film; techniques for inhibiting adhesion between a pair of films and for removing dirt or dust therein; techniques for detecting and/or mitigating the effects of scratches or dust on films; and techniques for detecting film punctures, detecting an imminent film puncture, and/or reducing the impact on the device when punctures occur.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device comprises: a shaping vessel that has an outer peripheral wall and a shaping stand, the shaping stand configuring a bottom portion of the shaping vessel; a rotation mechanism that rotates the shaping stand; and a raising/lowering device that raises/lowers the shaping stand, wherein shaping is performed while the outer peripheral wall and the shaping stand are being rotated at the same angular speed by the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for mixing and dispensing viscous materials for the creation of additive structures. As one example, during a mixing and dispensing operation with a mixing and dispensing head of a multi-dimensional printing apparatus, linear movement of a mixing rod positioned within a mixing chamber of the mixing and dispensing head, at least along a central axis of the mixing chamber, is adjusted based on an operating condition of the printing apparatus and dispensing of mixed liquids from the mixing and dispensing head is stopped by stopping one or more pumps fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber and linearly moving the mixing rod upward and away from a dispensing nozzle of the mixing and dispensing head.

Abstract: Methods and systems for high-speed production of nanoparticles with very high product yields are described. Systems utilize concentric micro-scale capillaries arranged to define nanoparticle formation regions that lie along predetermined length(s) of the capillaries. Flow through the formation regions can be laminar during a formation protocol. The system can include on-line analytical tools for real time characterization of products or intermediates. Systems include an additive manufacturing-type deposition at the terminus of the formation section. The deposition area includes a print head and a print bed and provides for random or patterned deposition of nanoparticles. The print head and/or the print bed can be capable of motion in one or more degrees of freedom relative to one another.

Abstract: Techniques for producing a flat film surface in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, a movable stage may be arranged beneath a container having a base that includes a flexible film. The movable stage may include a segmented member in which a number of segments are aligned along a common axis. The segmented member may maintain contact with the flexible film as the movable stage moves beneath the container, with the segmented member producing a flat surface of the flexible film, at least within a region above the movable stage. According to some embodiments, multiple segmented members may be provided within the movable stage, such as in parallel with one another.