Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, a dispenser configured to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material onto the platform, at least one light source configured to generate a first light beam and a second light beam, a polygon mirror scanner, an actuator, and a galvo mirror scanner. The polygon mirror scanner is configured to receive the first light beam and reflect the first light beam towards the platform. Rotation of the first polygon mirror causes the light beam to move in a first direction along a path on a layer of feed material on the platform. The actuator is configured to cause the path to move along a second direction at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction. The galvo mirror scanner system is configured to receive the second light beam and reflect the second light beam toward the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an object from a material by means of additive manufacturing using a plurality of solidifying devices for solidifying said material in stacked layers by means of electromagnetic radiation. Said method comprises the step of defining, by a data processing unit, at least two solidifying device allocations. In each of said solidifying device allocations said plurality of solidifying devices are allocated to respective parts of said layer such that said parts cover said layer.

Abstract: In an aspect, a 3D printer is provided and includes a print head having an extruder motor positioned to feed a filament into a heater, a print head positioning system configured to move the print head relative to a print surface, a motor driver that is connected to the extruder motor and is operable to control the operation of the extruder motor, a sensor module that includes a feed rate sensor positioned to detect a rate of feed of the filament, and a control system that is programmed to: receive signals from the sensor module that are indicative of the feed rate of the filament, and control the operation of the motor driver based on the signals from the sensor module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conformal additive manufacturing are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are disclosed utilizing variable offset curves and/or a manipulated solution to Laplace's equation to generate layers between an initial boundary and a desired boundary.

Abstract: Detection and classification of anomalies for powder bed metal additive manufacturing. Anomalies, such as recoater blade impacts, binder deposition issues, spatter generation, and some porosities, are surface-visible at each layer of the building process. A multi-scaled parallel dynamic segmentation convolutional neural network architecture provides additive manufacturing machine and imaging system agnostic pixel-wise semantic segmentation of layer-wise powder bed image data. Learned knowledge is easily transferrable between different additive manufacturing machines. The anomaly detection can be conducted in real-time and provides accurate and generalizable results.

Abstract: In the field of producing three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing, methods and apparatuses are provided for transporting powdered build material that is used for the production of three-dimensional objects. In order to furnish a simple, reliably operating, and maintenance-free solution for material transportation from one space to another while simultaneously influencing gas exchange between the two spaces, in particular while maintaining gas separation of the spaces, it is proposed that a powder column be formed with the build material, which column influences the gas exchange, in particular prevents a gas exchange between the spaces.

Abstract: Systems for thermal control of additive manufacturing comprise a build volume within which a part is additively manufactured; a heat source positioned relative to the build volume and configured to actively deliver heat to discrete sections of the part as it is being additively manufactured; and a controller operatively coupled to the heat source and configured to direct delivery of heat from the heat source to discrete sections of the part as it is being additively manufactured to impart desired physical properties to the part. Methods of additively manufacturing a part comprise additively building a part from a feedstock material; and actively heating discrete sections of the part as the part is being additively built to impart desired physical properties to the part.

Abstract: A nozzle is configured for receiving and dispensing a 3D printer filament. The nozzle includes a barrel, a heating element, and an end tip. The barrel has an internal bore and an exterior surface. The internal bore has a filament receiving end and a filament discharge end. A heat break is defined in the exterior surface of the barrel. The heating element is proximate the filament discharge end. The heating element includes a heating wire wrapped around the exterior surface of the barrel. The end tip is proximate the filament discharge end. The 3D filament is received in the filament receiving end heated by the heating element and dispensed through end tip proximate the filament discharge end.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: A gas shield for an additive manufacturing system includes a bracket and a flexible curtain mounted to the bracket. A method of additively manufacturing includes removably mounting a gas shield to at least partially segregate a powder dispenser and a chamber.

Abstract: In manufacturing a contact lens, a contact lens mould arrangement in which the engagement between the mould halves is unconstrained and at least one mould half is sufficiently pliable or flexible that during the curing of the contact lens composition at one mold half may move or flex relative to the other to define a post-cure mould cavity of smaller volume than the precure mould cavity and during which the curvatures of the first and/or second mould surfaces are allowed to change provides a significantly more efficient manufacturing process and enables one mould half to be readily utilized as a blister cup for contact lens packaging.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping system includes a three-dimensional shaping apparatus and a control apparatus. The control apparatus analyzes path data including a plurality of paths indicating a route along which a nozzle moves relative to a shaping table of the three-dimensional shaping apparatus, and generates shaping data by adding a stop command to the path data in order to temporarily stop change of a relative position and temporarily close an opening and closing mechanism at the time of switching two consecutive paths, when a length of the two consecutive paths or an angle at which the two consecutive paths are connected satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a vapor condensation thermoplastic part finishing technique is provided that smooths and ensures color saturation of thermoplastic parts. The technique uses nonhazardous vapor condensation to rapidly heat a thermoplastic part to a temperature higher than its melting temperature. The part then may be cooled to a temperature lower than its melting temperature (and preferable lower than its glass-transition temperature. In some cases, evaporation may be employed to rapidly cool the part. Condensation and, where applicable evaporation, may be promoted by pressure changes to the nonhazardous vapor (e.g., increasing pressure to above atmospheric pressure and then decreasing pressure back to atmospheric pressure), exposure of the part to a separately-heated cloud of nonhazardous vapor (e.g., moving the part into and then out of the separately-heated cloud or injecting and then stopping injection of separately-heated vapor), or by other techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for additive manufacturing by laser melting of a material. The system includes a plurality of laser heads and a powder bed surface. The laser heads are independently movable linearly across the entire powder bed surface.

Abstract: A bioprinter comprises one or more dispensing units. Each dispensing unit may include (i) a syringe including a hollow body and a plunger dimensioned to translate in the body wherein the body has an exit orifice; (ii) an actuator in contact with a proximal end of the plunger; (iii) a controller for moving the actuator; and (iv) a nozzle having a wall defining a fluid path extending from an inlet of the nozzle to an outlet of the nozzle. The inlet of the nozzle is in fluid communication with the exit orifice of the syringe body. The nozzle includes a fluid passageway in fluid communication with a source of fluid and the fluid path. The bioprinter can be used in a method of preparing microtissue comprising dispensing a bioink from one or more dispensing units of the bioprinter on a plate. The microtissue may comprise cartilage cells or tumor cells or liver cells.

Abstract: A method for improving z-axis strength of a 3D printed object is disclosed. For example, the method includes printing a three-dimensional (3D) object with a polymer and magnetic particles, heating the 3D object to a temperature at approximately a melting temperature of the polymer, and applying a magnetic field to the 3D object to locally move the magnetic particles in the polymer to generate heat and fuse the polymer around the magnetic particles to improve a z-axis strength of the 3D object.

Abstract: A gas concentration meter includes a first gas concentration detection sensor capable of detecting at least a gas concentration in a first concentration range, a second gas concentration detection sensor capable of detecting at least a gas concentration in a second concentration range, and a control unit. An upper limit value of the second concentration range is lower than an upper limit value of the first concentration range, and a lower limit value of the second concentration range is lower than a lower limit value of the first concentration range. The control unit is configured to output either the lower limit value of the first concentration range or the upper limit value of the second concentration range as an indication value when an output signal of the first gas concentration detection sensor corresponds to a gas concentration lower than the lower limit value of the first concentration range.

Abstract: A movable raw material processing unit for an additive manufacturing device for manufacturing a solid article comprises a housing comprising a transport device for disengaging the raw material processing unit from the additive manufacturing device. The raw material processing unit comprises a raw material container unit, a build unit and a raw material distribution unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for transforming a preform into a container filled with liquid filling material includes a mold that forms a mold head, a sterilization system, a chamber that is common to a group of mold heads, an evacuation system that is connected to the chamber, and conduit lines, each of which connects a mold head to the chamber. The sterilization system sterilizes the interior of the preform while it is in sealing engagement with the mold head. The evacuation system creates a vacuum in the preform. Liquid filling material enters the preform under pressure and causes it to transform into a container.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus to form a three-dimensional object with a plurality of layers of ink laminated includes a stage; a discharge head to discharge photocurable ink, toward the stage, for each layer in a height direction of the three-dimensional object; a driver to move the discharge head or the stage relative to the other; an irradiation device to cure the ink, for each layer, with curing light irradiation; and circuitry. The circuitry causes the discharge head to discharge the ink, according to slice data indicating a printing region and a non-printing region in each layer generated by sliding in the height direction of the three-dimensional object, corresponding to movement of the discharge head; and change, in each layer, illuminance of the curing light in the printing region and the non-printing region in accordance with a state of the printing region and the non-printing region indicated by the slice data.