Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, when an amount of a shaping material discharged toward a shaping surface per unit movement amount of a discharging unit is defined as a discharged shaping amount, in a layer forming step of forming a layer on the shaping surface, in a case in which a second partial shaped object to be shaped is not adjacent to a first partial shaped object that is shaped previously and is shaped with a gap between the first partial shaped object and the second partial shaped object, the second partial shaped object is shaped by setting the discharged shaping amount to a first discharged shaping amount, and in a case in which the second partial shaped object is adjacent to the first partial shaped object, the second partial shaped object is shaped by setting the discharged shaping amount to a second discharged shaping amount that is greater than the first discharged shaping amount.

Abstract: The present application discloses a 3D printing device and a release method and a liquid containing mechanism therefor, and relates to the field of 3D printing. The liquid containing mechanism comprises a material box foundation, a material box and a plurality of motion guide components. The material box foundation is a rigid annular plate with a mounting groove and is detachably mounted on a base of the 3D printing device, the mounting groove of the material box foundation is covered by a light-transmitting glass plate, and the glass plate is fixed on an upper surface of the material box foundation. The plurality of motion guide components are fixed to a peripheral edge of the material box and then detachably fixed on the material box foundation. Each of the motion guide components is a following component with an upper limit structure and a lower limit structure, and the following component is fixed to the peripheral edge of the material box.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a support plate, a transparent sheet, gas pressure source, and a conduit. The support plate includes a transparent central portion and defines a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The transparent sheet overlays the transparent central portion, the gas inlet, and the gas outlet of the support plate. A central chamber is defined between the transparent sheet and the support plate. The gas pressure source is coupled to the gas inlet through the conduit. An input fluid flow resistance Li is defined from the gas pressure source to the central chamber. An output fluid flow resistance Lo is defined out through the gas outlet and to an outside location. A ratio of Li to Lo is sufficient to allow a stable control of a physical configuration of the central unsupported portion of the transparent sheet above the support plate.

Abstract: A device for fabricating a solid freeform object includes a stage that rotates, a discharging device disposed over the stage and includes a discharging head each having one or more nozzles, the discharging head for discharging a curing composition to the stage and an exposing device disposed over the stage that exposes the stage to active energy, wherein the distance between the stage and the discharging device is variable and the distance between the stage and the exposing device is variable, wherein the shorter direction of the discharging head is perpendicular to the direction from the center of rotation of the stage toward the peripheral of the stage, wherein the number of the nozzles along the shorter direction increases in the direction from the center of rotation of the stage toward the peripheral of the stage.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer includes a projector, a tank, and a platform. The projector includes a light source, a digital micromirror device, and a controller. The digital micromirror device includes a micromirror, and the micromirror may be switched between an on state and an off state according to a control signal. The controller is electrically connected to the digital micromirror device and the light source. The controller further includes a judgement unit. The judgement unit may output the control signal to switch the micromirror to the off state when the light source is in the off state. The platform is adjacent to the tank. In addition, a manufacturing method for a three-dimensional printer is provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include generating at least one tool path, causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along a first portion of the at least one tool path, and monitoring placement of the material along the first portion of the at least one tool path. The method may also include adjusting a second portion of the at least one tool path based on the placement, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along the second portion of the at least one tool path after the adjusting.

Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold assembly for use in manufacturing articles. The mold assembly provides for contouring, shaping and cutting materials to form articles via a continuous single processing operation. The mold assembly includes an upper mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a first cutting edge, a lower mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a second cutting edge, and a base portion into which the lower mold portion may retract during use. Upon application of a first force, the upper and lower mold portions cooperate to contour/shape a material from which an article is to be formed. Upon application of a second force greater than the first, the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge interact to shear the material that extends beyond the respective cutting edges. The result is an article that is contoured, shaped and cut/trimmed utilizing a single processing operation.

Abstract: An example system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer to generate a 3D object and a surface feature formation arrangement to receive the 3D object. The 3D object has at least one surface with a layer of at least partly uncured material. The surface feature formation arrangement includes a controller and a heat source. The controller is to operate the heat source to selectively apply heat to the at least one surface of the 3D object. The heat from the heat source is to transform the at least partly uncured material to form a selected feature on the at least one surface.

Abstract: A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer having two or more receptacles having different geometric configurations, the 3D printer builds parts by material extrusion. The consumable assembly includes a container configured to retain a supply of a first filament, and a first filament guide tube having a length, the first filament guide tube having an inlet end attached to the first container and an outlet end, The consumable assembly includes a key having a geometric configuration allowing the key to be plugged into only one receptacle of the two or more receptacles of the 3D printer, the key comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the first filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the first container to the 3D printer.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a x-y build plane and a print head configured to extrude molten material to print a 3D part in a layer-by-layer process. The 3D printer includes a platen configured to support the part being printed in the layer by layer process and positionable with a primary Z positioner along a z-axis substantially normal to the x-y build plane. The 3D printer includes a local Z positioner moved by the gantry, the local Z positioner comprising a linear motor configured to move the print head in the z-direction and having an operable range of motion extending from a nominal build position at which a nozzle of the print head is positioned in the x-y build plane to a raised position above the x-y build plane.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing an object. The method may include discharging a composite material from a print head to form the object. The method may also include drawing out fewer than all components of the composite material from the print head prior to discharging.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for manufacturing a 3D article includes a resin vessel, a build plate, a plate support, a hook subsystem, an elevator subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and a controller. The build plate has an upper surface and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The hook subsystem includes a hook. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the elevator subsystem and the imaging subsystem to fabricate the 3D article. (b) Operate the elevator subsystem to raise the 3D article above photocurable resin in the resin vessel. (c) Operate the hook subsystem to configure the hook to be engaged with the proximal end of the build plate. (d) Operate the elevator subsystem to impart a vertical separation distance between the proximal and distal ends of the build plate. The vertical separation distance defines an angular tilt of the 3D article to facilitate draining of residual photocurable.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: The present description discloses a 3D printing pen and a use method therefor. A pen body comprises a nozzle and a filament feeding channel through which a filament passes is formed in the pen body. The pen body further comprises a dyeing mechanism, wherein the dyeing mechanism includes a driving mechanism and a dyeing member, and the driving mechanism configured to drive the dyeing member to dye the filament; a filament feeding mechanism configured to convey the filament to the nozzle; a heating element configured to heat and melt the filament; and a stirring mechanism configured to stir the molten filament.

Abstract: A discharge apparatus, a forming apparatus, a method of operating the discharge apparatus, and a method of producing a formed body are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a discharge apparatus is used to collide a particle with a fixed surface to fix the particle to the fixed surface, the discharge apparatus includes a first dispenser for discharging an aerosol containing the particle toward the fixed surface at a first discharge rate, and a second dispenser for discharging a gas toward the fixed surface at a second discharge rate faster than the first discharge rate, and the second dispenser discharges the gas so that the gas at least partially overlaps with the aerosol to accelerate at least a portion of the aerosol toward the fixed surface to fix the particle to the fixed surface.

Abstract: A head is disclosed for an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a first outlet configured to discharge a composite material to form an object. The head may also include a second outlet located upstream of the first outlet and configured to discharge fewer than all components of the composite material.

Abstract: A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning the laser beam over the deposited powder to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layers, includes determining an order in which areas should be scanned by: projecting a debris fallout zone that would be created when solidifying each area based on a gas flow direction of a gas flow passed over the powder bed; determining whether one or more other areas to be solidified fall within the debris fallout zone; and selecting to solidify the one or more other areas that fall within the debris fallout zone before solidifying the area from which the debris fallout zone has been projected.

Abstract: A method of forming a high-throughput, three-dimensional (3D) microelectrode array for in vitro electrophysiological applications includes 3D printing a well plate having a top face and bottom face. A plurality of culture well each includes a plurality of 3D printed, vertical microchannels and microtroughs communicating with the microchannels. The microtroughs and the microchannels are filled with a conductive paste to form self-isolated microelectrodes in each of the culture wells and conductive traces that communicate with the self-isolated microelectrodes.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

Abstract: A gas knife system for an additive manufacturing system can include one or more gas delivery members configured to move relative to a build area of the additive manufacturing system, and an inlet conduit configured to supply gas to the one or more gas delivery members while the one or more gas delivery members are moved relative to the build area. The system can also include one or more gas collection members configured to move relative to the build area of the additive manufacturing system, and an outlet conduit configured collect gas from the one or more gas collection members while the one or more gas collection members move relative to the build area.