Abstract: According to an example, an apparatus for a three-dimensional printing system comprises a chamber, an actuator, and a controller. The chamber comprises an opening towards the top of the chamber to receive a container having an openable base and the container is to contain a build cake, wherein the chamber further comprises a platform movable below the opening that is to receive the build cake when the base of the container is opened. The actuator is to move the platform within the chamber, and the controller is to position the platform at a build cake receiving position such that when the container base is opened, the build cake drops onto the platform generating a shock wave that is transmitted into the build cake.

Abstract: A platform is moved to translate contents of a print chamber to a secondary chamber. Negative pressure is applied to the secondary chamber and print chamber during motion of the platform, to reduce friction between the contents of the print chamber and sidewalls of the print chamber.

Abstract: A mask is described comprising a mask body for covering the nose and mouth of a wearer, and a cushion for sealing against the wearer's face. The cushion depends inwardly from the periphery of the mask body. The mask body and the cushion are formed of an elastomeric material, and the mask body is shaped such that, when the mask is worn by the wearer, the mask body flexes about a median plane.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes, by processing circuitry, receiving a parameter describing a build volume comprising an object generated using additive manufacturing and excess build material. In some examples the method further includes defining, by processing circuitry, an unpacking procedure for removing the excess build material from the object based on the received parameter.

Abstract: A 3D printing cleaning module comprises an extraction gate at a lateral wall of a housing; and a platform within the housing to support a build bed including 3D printed parts and un-solidified build material. The platform is tilted or tiltable with respect to a horizontal plane towards the extraction gate to enable 3D printed parts on the platform to be removable through the extraction gate. The module comprises a cleaning engine to remove at least part of the un-solidified build material from the housing, a vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform; and a controller. The controller is to control the cleaning engine to execute a cleaning operation by removing un-solidified build material from the housing, to cause the part ejection gate to open upon completion of the cleaning operation, and to cause the vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform when the part extraction gate is in the open position.

Abstract: A 3D printing module to remove un-solidified build material attached to a 3D printed part is disclosed herein. The 3D printing module comprises a platform within a housing to support a 3D printed part, a vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform, a cleaning element to apply a cleaning stream within the housing to clean the 3D printed part, and a controller. The controller is to vibrate the platform, generate a cleaning stream in the housing, and to control at least one of the platform and the cleaning element to apply the cleaning stream to different portions of a 3D printed part on the platform.

Abstract: According to an example, a device comprises a sidewall and a base. The sidewall and the base define a chamber for receipt of a volume of build material comprising loose build material and a solid object generated from the build material in an additive manufacturing process. The base is not permeable to build material but permeable to a gas to allow an influx of a gas into the chamber to fluidize loose build material around the solid object in the volume of build material in the chamber to facilitate the removal of the solid object from the loose build material.

Abstract: A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Abstract: A cooling unit can be coupled to a build unit of a 3D printing system. The cooling unit comprises a cooling unit opening which is arranged to face a build unit opening when the cooling unit is coupled to the build unit to enable transfer of content from the build unit to the cooling unit. The cooling unit further comprises a self-locking latch mechanism to couple the cooling unit to the build unit such that the cooling unit opening faces the build unit opening.

Abstract: A platform is moved to translate contents of a print chamber to a secondary chamber. Negative pressure is applied to the secondary chamber and print chamber during motion of the platform, to reduce friction between the contents of the print chamber and sidewalls of the print chamber.

Abstract: Examples relate to a seal assembly comprising a base unit comprising an opening and a sealing surface extending around the opening. The seal assembly further comprises a sensor to detect a distance between the sealing surface of the base unit and a sealing surface of a lid when a fastener is connecting the lid to the base unit.

Abstract: An example of an apparatus to transfer additive manufacturing build material from a container is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises a holding structure and a conduit. The holding structure comprises a fixation element to physically attach the holding structure to one or multiple sides of the container. The conduit may be couplable to a vacuum system through a vacuum open end to extract the build material. The holding structure receives and positions the conduit substantially vertically such that a build material extraction open end of the conduit is positioned towards the base of the container. The vacuum open end and the build material extraction open end are opposite open ends from the conduit.

Abstract: A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Abstract: A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Abstract: A droplet deposition head including a datum surface arrangement for alignment of the head relative to an external mounting component in either a vertical mounting mode in which the head is held against a vertical mounting plate or a horizontal mounting mode where the head is held against a horizontal mounting plate. The datum surface arrangement comprising at least seven datum surfaces (x1; y1, y2, y3; z1, z2, z3) provided on the head, wherein five of the seven datum surfaces are provided for alignment in both vertical and horizontal mounting modes, and wherein a sixth datum surface (z3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said horizontal mounting mode and a seventh datum surface (y3) is provided for alignment exclusively in said vertical mounting mode.

Abstract: A printer assembly includes a carrier module and a first guide element. The carrier module includes side portions extending in a first orientation and a mounting portion to receive an ink cartridge. The first guide element is removably mounted on the carrier module and includes protrusions, extending outward beyond each side portion, to slidably engage a guide structure of a carriage cavity during at least a portion of removable insertion of the carrier module into the carriage cavity.

Abstract: Example fluid supply systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example fluid supply supply system includes a first receptacle to receive a first fluid supply cartridge, a second receptacle to receive a second fluid supply cartridge, and a selection valve to selectively couple a source of pressurized air to the first and second receptacles to provide a fluid to a printhead, only one of the first and second receptacles being coupled to the source of pressurized air at a time.

Abstract: A printer assembly includes a carrier module and a first guide element. The carrier module includes side portions extending in a first orientation and a mounting portion to receive an ink cartridge. The first guide element is removably mounted on the carrier module and includes protrusions, extending outward beyond each side portion, to slidably engage a guide structure of a carriage cavity during at least a portion of removable insertion of the carrier module into the carriage cavity.

Abstract: Example fluid supply systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed. A disclosed example fluid supply supply system includes a first receptacle to receive a first fluid supply cartridge, a second receptacle to receive a second fluid supply cartridge, and a selection valve to selectively couple a source of pressurized air to the first and second receptacles to provide a fluid to a printhead, only one of the first and second receptacles being coupled to the source of pressurized air at a time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a latch for a liquid dispensing component includes: a first part for holding a liquid dispensing component in a seated position in a holder, the first part movable between an open position in which the component may be installed in or removed from the holder and a closed position in which the component is held in the seated position in the holder; and a second part for connecting the component to a liquid supply port, the second part movable, while the first part is in the closed position, between a disconnected position in which the component is not connected to the liquid supply port and a connected position in which the component is connected to the liquid supply port.