Abstract: 3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

Abstract: 3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional (3D) printing system and method for printing a 3D object, a material in solid form is elevated in temperature to a point at which the material melts or partially melts and begins to flow from a nozzle as a result of an actuating force or displacement resulting in a force. Since the transfer of heat to the material is central to melting and flow of the material, and the printing process ultimately, it is useful that the material be elevated to the appropriate temperature. By anticipating large fluxes of material through the nozzle and adjusting a heating rate in advance of an increased deposition rate, the material remains melted, and extrusion of the material via the nozzle is not limited by heating.

Abstract: 3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shrinking interface composition that allows for the accommodation of sintering shrinkage between two or more areas or sections of a three-dimensionally printed part and/or support structures for the part. The interface composition, which can be in the form of an interface layer, is used to prevent the fusing of the sections, parts or support structures to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a system for drying a paste-based crafting medium during three-dimensional printing and a method thereof. The system can comprise a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material for a mold layer in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The system also includes a drying means which can be a heating system or a drying apparatus, that in some embodiments can be attached to the printhead. The three-dimensional imaging process for making objects, preferably metal objects or ceramic objects, on a layer-by-layer basis under the control of a data processing system is disclosed. The drying of the object or mold is crucial in the three-dimensional imaging process because it can affect the overall quality of the object.

Abstract: This invention relates to three-dimensional printing. This invention in particularly relates to a method of fabricating a three-dimensional object using a support edifice and also using a mold material with structural additives. The support edifice is fabricated in the same crafting material as the final three-dimensional object in the same manner as the printing of the final three-dimensional object (mold and crafting in a layer by layer manner). This method enables the support edifice to also transform during post processing in the same manner as the final three-dimensional object, thus supporting the object until finished. The system for fabricating the object comprises a dual printhead comprising a first dispensing nozzle for depositing the filament material in a flowable fluid form and a second dispensing nozzle for depositing the crafting medium, which is in a paste form. The printhead can also include a heating system or a drying apparatus.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer includes a vessel containing a liquid in which a printed object can debind during fabrication. More generally, the vessel may contain any liquid medium selected to control or modify properties of a printed object during fabrication. For example, the liquid may also or instead impose a controlled thermal environment for the printed object, apply finishing materials to an exterior surface of the object, provide a component or catalyst for a reaction, or otherwise treat the printed object or control ambient conditions during printing.

Abstract: 3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are directed to binder jetting for forming three-dimensional parts having controlled, macroscopically inhomogeneous material composition. In general, a binder may be delivered to each layer of a plurality of layers of a powder of inorganic particles. An active component may be introduced, in a spatially controlled distribution, to at least one of the plurality of layers such that the binder, the powder of inorganic particles, and the active component, in combination, form an object. The object may be thermally processed into a three-dimensional part having a gradient of one or more physicochemical properties of a material at least partially formed from thermally processing the inorganic particles and the active component of the object.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional (3D) printing system and method for printing a 3D object, a material in solid form is elevated in temperature to a point at which the material melts or partially melts and begins to flow from a nozzle as a result of an actuating force or displacement resulting in a force. Since the transfer of heat to the material is central to melting and flow of the material, and the printing process ultimately, it is useful that the material be elevated to the appropriate temperature. By anticipating large fluxes of material through the nozzle and adjusting a heating rate in advance of an increased deposition rate, the material remains melted, and extrusion of the material via the nozzle is not limited by heating.

Abstract: A ceramic precursor is used to create a separable interface between a support structure and a sinterable object. More specifically, a sinterable structure can be fabricated from a build material including a sinterable powder in an aqueous binder, and an interface layer can be formed by depositing a ceramic precursor in a nonaqueous solution onto the sinterable structure. When the ceramic precursor is exposed to water in the aqueous binder of the build material, the ceramic can precipitate to form an unsinterable, ceramic interface layer between the sinterable structure and adjacent sinterable structures.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus, and corresponding method, determine a mass (or volume) output flow rate of extrudate used in three-dimensional (3D) printing, and such determination is insensitive to rheological properties of a material of the extrudate being printed. A thermal energy balance on a liquefying extrusion head enables a load on a heater, used to heat the extrusion head, to be related to the output flow rate of extrudate. Based on the thermal energy balance, the output flow rate may be determined based on a duty cycle of the heater. The output flow rate may be employed to affect the 3D printing to prevent over- or under-extrusion of the extrudate and to identify a fault condition.

Abstract: Methods of printing an object via a 3-dimensional printer include provide for printed objects having a higher density. A printer head is operated to deposit build material in lines under controlled parameters including lateral position, height, extrustion rate, extrusion temperature, and/or extrusion material. The printer may print first lines forming channels at a given layer, and then second lines to fill those channels. The printer may operate with other approaches to fill gaps between printed lines, such as offset and/or smaller lines aligned with those gaps. The resulting object has greater density while maintaining an accurate object shape.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are introduced for controlling an output flow of a build material from an extrusion assembly used for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object. Control of the output flow is based on an input control value that may be a function of a hydraulic capacitance and a hydraulic resistance, representing hydraulic capacitance values and hydraulic resistance values, respectively, associated with the build material, the extrusion assembly, or a combination thereof at one or more locations of the extrusion assembly relative to a melting zone of an extrusion head of the extrusion assembly as well as a target output flow. The input control value enables the output flow to match the target output flow. The hydraulic capacitance and resistance values account for interaction of the build material and a mechanical mechanism of the extrusion assembly driving extrusion of the build material.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include a carrier, supramolecular assemblies of molecules, and nanoparticles of an inorganic material. The supramolecular assemblies may sequester the nanoparticles of the inorganic material from the carrier to facilitate maintaining the nanoparticles in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The supramolecular assemblies of the molecules may be disrupted during a fabrication process to release the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects (e.g.

Abstract: Techniques and compositions are disclosed for feedstocks with powder/binder systems for three-dimensional printing, such as fused filament fabrication. For example, a plurality of feedstocks may be combined to form a three-dimensional object having a spatial gradient of a first primary binder and a second primary binder. The spatial gradient of the first primary binder and the second primary binder along the three-dimensional object may form the three-dimensional object with an advantageous combination of adequate structural support and a rapid overall rate of debinding the first primary binder and the second primary binder from the three-dimensional object as the three-dimensional object is processed into a final part. Accordingly, the spatial gradient of the first primary binder and the second primary binder may be useful for rapid three-dimensional manufacturing of high quality parts.

Abstract: Techniques and compositions are disclosed for feedstocks with powder/binder systems for three-dimensional printing, such as fused filament fabrication. For example, a feedstock may include a primary binder and a secondary binder for supporting a shape of a three-dimensional object through processing into a final part. The primary binder may include a high molecular weight polymer useful to achieve high print quality and strength of the three-dimensional object in initial processing. Further, the high molecular weight polymer may be chemically decomposed, and thus rapidly debound from the three-dimensional object, through exposure to a solvent. The secondary binder may be substantially insoluble in the solvent such that the secondary binder may remain to support a net shape of the three-dimensional object in subsequent processing.

Abstract: Techniques and compositions are disclosed for feedstocks with powder/binder systems for three-dimensional printing, such as fused filament fabrication. For example, a feedstock may include a first high polymer and a second polymer for supporting a shape of a three-dimensional object through various processing stages. The first polymer may be a moderate or high molecular weight polymer, and the second polymer may be a high molecular weight polymer. The first polymer may provide improved print quality and strength, as compared to a low molecular weight polymer, in initial processing. In a solvent, the first polymer may be preferentially dissolved over the second polymer such that the second polymer may remain to support a net shape of the three-dimensional object in subsequent processing. Accordingly, the combination of the first polymer and the second polymer may be useful for rapid three-dimensional manufacturing of high quality parts.