Abstract: A method for making a three-dimensional (3D) part with an electrostatographic based additive manufacturing system includes developing a first layer of a powder material using at least one electrostatographic engine, supporting the developed first layer on a transfer medium, adjusting a first layer thermal profile of the developed first layer with a first thermal flux device, adding thermal energy to a part thermal profile that includes a bonding region of previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, transfusing the developed first layer on the bonding region of the previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, and removing thermal energy from the part thermal profile. A transfusion temperature at a start of the transfusing step can be equal to or greater than a transfusion threshold temperature, where the transfusion temperature is an average of the first layer thermal profile and the part thermal profile in the bonding region.

Abstract: Disclosed are selective deposition based additive manufacturing systems (10) and methods for printing a 3D part. Layers of a powder material (22) are developed using one or more electrostatography-based engines (12). The layers (22) are transferred for deposition on a part build surface. For each of the layers (22), the part build surface is heated to a temperature within a range between a flowable temperature and a thermal oxidation threshold to form a flowable part build surface, and the developed layer (22) is pressed into contact with the flowable build surface (88) to heat the developed layers (22) to a flowable state and form a new part build surface (88) which is fully consolidated. The new part build surface (88) is then cooled to remove the heat energy added during heating step before repeating the steps for the next developed layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are selective deposition based additive manufacturing systems (10) and methods for printing a 3D part. Layers of a powder material (22) are developed using one or more electrostatography-based engines (12). The layers (22) are transferred for deposition on a part build surface. For each of the layers (22), the part build surface is heated to a temperature within a range between a flowable temperature and a thermal oxidation threshold to form a flowable part build surface, and the developed layer (22) is pressed into contact with the flowable build surface (88) to heat the developed layers (22) to a flowable state and form a new part build surface (88) which is fully consolidated. The new part build surface (88) is then cooled to remove the heat energy added during heating step before repeating the steps for the next developed layer.

Abstract: A selective-deposition-based additive manufacturing system (10) includes a transfer medium (24) configured to receive the layers (22) from an imaging engine (12), a heater (72) configured to heat the layers (22) on the transfer medium (24), and a layer transfusion assembly (20) that includes a build platform (28), and is configured to transfuse the heated layers (22) onto the build platform (28) in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part (22). The transfusion assembly (20) includes a nip roller (320) configured to deform when transfusing the heated imaged layers (22) to reduce deformation of the layers (22).

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to substrates for use in a selective toner electrophotographic process (STEP) additive manufacturing system. The substrates include a build platform for use in STEP additive manufacturing system, the build platform comprising a build substrate for receiving a build material deposited by a STEP process; wherein the platform has selected thermal properties, such as within 30 percent of the build material to be deposited onto the substrate.

Abstract: A method for making a three-dimensional (3D) part with an electrostatographic based additive manufacturing system includes developing a first layer of a powder material using at least one electrostatographic engine, supporting the developed first layer on a transfer medium, adjusting a first layer thermal profile of the developed first layer with a first thermal flux device, adding thermal energy to a part thermal profile that includes a bonding region of previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, transfusing the developed first layer on the bonding region of the previously accumulated layers of the 3D part, and removing thermal energy from the part thermal profile. A transfusion temperature at a start of the transfusing step can be equal to or greater than a transfusion threshold temperature, where the transfusion temperature is an average of the first layer thermal profile and the part thermal profile in the bonding region.