Abstract: In one example, a process for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes, with a floor of the supply container at or near a top of the supply container, dispensing build material powder into a loading chamber surrounding the top of the supply container and on to the floor, compacting powder in the loading chamber, and lowering the floor with the compacted powder into the supply container.

Abstract: In one example, a system for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes a dispenser to dispense a build material powder into a supply container, a device to measure a density of the build material powder in the supply container, a compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container, and a controller operatively connected to the measuring device and the compactor. The controller is programmed to control the compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container until a measured density reaches a threshold density.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process comprising adding a support to an object model to create a modified object model f an object with a support to be built. The support extends from an object end coupled to the object to a distal end to be engaged with a carrier to support the object. A build model is created by arranging the modified object model within a virtual build volume with the distal end of the support at a defined location within the virtual build volume. Instructions are then provided to build a build cake corresponding to the build model, the build cake comprising the object with support and non-solidified build material.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a set of 3D printed objects comprises a platform to receive a 3D printed object with build material attached thereto to be cleaned, a tool station to host a plurality of different cleaning attachments and a cleaning body moveable over the platform and to the tool station. The cleaning body comprises an end to receive one of the cleaning attachments. A controller is to receive data corresponding to the geometry of a portion of a 3D printed object and select, based on the received data, a cleaning attachment to clean the 3D printed object portion. The controller is further to control the cleaning body to attach the selected cleaning attachment to the cleaning body, and control the cleaning body to move to a position based on the received data and control a gas flow through the cleaning body to clean the 3D printed object portion.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

Abstract: In one example, a system for loading build material into a portable build unit having a platform on which objects are printed and a build material supply container next to the platform. The system includes a build material dispenser, a conveyor to move the build unit and/or the dispenser, and a controller operatively connected to the dispenser and the conveyor. The controller is programmed to, with the build unit and the dispenser in a fill position, cause the dispenser to dispense build material into the supply container, cause the conveyor to move the build unit and/or the dispenser to and/or from the fill position, and, while the conveyor moves the build unit and/or the dispenser to and/or from the fill position, cause the dispenser to dispense build material on to the platform.

Abstract: A system comprising a support member to support a three-dimensional printed job. The three-dimensional printed job has at least one printed part and associated excess build material. The system further includes a force generating arrangement to impart a force on a three-dimensional printed job supported by the support member; and a build material outlet to allow removal of excess build material from a three-dimensional printed job supported by the support member. The system further includes a sensor to sense a change in the support member, a three-dimensional printed job supported by the support member or a combination thereof wherein the change is due to removal of excess build material from the three-dimensional printed job; and a controller to modify the force imparted on a three-dimensional printed job supported by the support member, wherein the controller modifies the force in dependence upon the change sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: In one example, a system for loading build material into a portable build unit having a platform on which objects are printed and a build material supply container next to the platform. The system includes a build material dispenser, a conveyor to move the build unit and/or the dispenser, and a controller operatively connected to the dispenser and the conveyor. The controller is programmed to, with the build unit and the dispenser in a fill position, cause the dispenser to dispense build material into the supply container, cause the conveyor to move the build unit and/or the dispenser to and/or from the fill position, and, while the conveyor moves the build unit and/or the dispenser to and/or from the fill position, cause the dispenser to dispense build material on to the platform.

Abstract: In one example, a process for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes, with a floor of the supply container at or near a top of the supply container, dispensing build material powder into a loading chamber surrounding the top of the supply container and on to the floor, compacting powder in the loading chamber, and lowering the floor with the compacted powder into the supply container.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process which comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing build process to create a build cake. The build cake comprises a build object and non-solidified build material and the build object is built in a build location within the build cake. The build cake is supported on a tray which comprises a mesh having openings therethrough. The tray also includes an object region and a restraining feature to restrain a build object within the object region. The process comprises performing a decake operation in which non-solidified build material from the build cake passes through the openings of the mesh and the object moves into contact with the tray in the object region so that the object is restrained within the object region of the tray by the restraining feature.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

Abstract: In one example, a system for loading a build material powder supply container for 3D printing includes a dispenser to dispense a build material powder into a supply container, a device to measure a density of the build material powder in the supply container, a compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container, and a controller operatively connected to the measuring device and the compactor. The controller is programmed to control the compactor to compact the build material powder in the supply container until a measured density reaches a threshold density.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sealing member for a build unit of a 3D printing system, the build unit comprising a surface which is exposed to residual build material in use. The sealing member is adapted to engage with the build unit and form therewith a sealed fluid flow path comprising an inner surface including said surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus for loading powder into a powder supply chamber. The apparatus comprises a powder supply module to supply powder to a supply chamber, a set of powder compaction elements and a controller. The controller is to control the powder supply module to supply powder to the supply chamber, control the compaction member to distribute and compact the supplied powder, and control the height of the supply platform and the flow of powder to the supply chamber to load the supply chamber with powder.

Abstract: An example of an apparatus to decake a 3D printed part is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing including at least a conduit connectable to a gas source and at least a channel connectable to a vacuum source. The conduit, when in use, is to direct a gas flow to remove un-solidified build material particles from a surface of a 3D printed part. The channel, when in use, is to direct an airflow that generally surrounds the gas flow to extract the removed un-solidified build material particles.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided apparatus for restraining objects during a powder and object separation process. The apparatus comprises a base plate comprising a set of spatially arranged apertures, a set of rods, each rod slidable within a corresponding aperture of the base plate. The base plate is to connect with a chamber to contain a volume of powder and objects to be separated and the apparatus is configured such that, when the apparatus is connected to a chamber containing a volume of powder and 3D objects the set of rods are positionable in, or are slideable into, a position extending vertically away from the chamber, and as powder is removed from under each rod, the rods are to slide through the apertures.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer is described, wherein the three-dimensional printer comprises a build unit and a material removal unit. The build unit is configured to generate a three dimensional object. The material removal unit comprises a housing, a plurality of gas inlets and outlets, a plurality of valves and a control unit. The housing is sealed to the build unit and is configured to house a cake comprising the generated three dimensional object. The valves are configured to open and close the inlets and outlets, and the control unit is configured to control the valves, to allow gas to flow from different inlets to different outlets in different flow paths, in order remove powder from the object.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a controller to cause an additive manufacturing system to perform a method, the method comprising: controlling the additive manufacturing system to provide a plurality of articles in a multi-layer build arrangement in a build chamber, the multi-layer build arrangement comprising a plurality of article layers, each article layer comprising an article; ejecting a portion of the multi-layer build arrangement from the build chamber; and determining when a divider can be used to divide a first volume of build material of the multi-layer build arrangement from a remaining volume of build material of the multi-layer build arrangement, wherein the first volume comprises an article layer.

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: In some examples, a media stacker includes a drawer defining a chamber, and a plurality of moving elements to engage media sheets of different sizes as the media sheets are output from a system. The plurality of moving elements are to slide the media sheets to a target position in the drawer, and the plurality of moving elements are to disengage from the media sheets once the media sheets have reached the target position. A plurality of retaining elements are to engage the media sheets of the different sizes as the media sheets slide into the drawer.