Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for extracting a build part from an additive manufacturing machine. Upon completion of the build part by the additive manufacturing machine, a pin array is placed above the build part, the pin array including a plurality of pins slidably supported by a support plate for vertical movement relative to the support plate. The pin array is moved toward the build part so that the plurality of pins contact the build part and conform to the contour of the build part. The pins of the pin array are locked with the pins in contact with and conforming to the build part. The pin array and build part are inverted so that the build part is supported by the locked pins of the pin array. All of the pins of the array are locked simultaneously by a common locking component. The build plate can be formed on a sacrificial interposer plate that is removed by an etchant bath supported on the pin array when the build part is inverted.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a cleaning system. The cleaning system includes a gas source configured to introduce a gas at least partially into the nozzle. The cleaning system also includes a cleaning tool configured to remove solidified metallic dross from within the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for extracting a build part from an additive manufacturing machine. Upon completion of the build part by the additive manufacturing machine, a pin array is placed above the build part, the pin array including a plurality of pins slidably supported by a support plate for vertical movement relative to the support plate. The pin array is moved toward the build part so that the plurality of pins contact the build part and conform to the contour of the build part. The pins of the pin array are locked with the pins in contact with and conforming to the build part. The pin array and build part are inverted so that the build part is supported by the locked pins of the pin array. All of the pins of the array are locked simultaneously by a common locking component. The build plate can be formed on a sacrificial interposer plate that is removed by an etchant bath supported on the pin array when the build part is inverted.

Abstract: A method of making an ejector device. The method includes providing a substrate and forming one or more ejector conduits on the substrate. The one or more ejector conduits comprise: a first end configured to accept a print material; a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode pair that includes a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the ejector nozzle and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the ejector nozzle; and at least one passageway for allowing the print material to flow from the first end to the second end. A method of printing a three-dimensional object and a method for jetting print material from a printer jetting mechanism are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for delivery of particles into biological tissue includes at least one conduit and a propellant source fluidically coupled to the conduit and configured to deliver a propellant into the conduit. A particle source is configured to release elongated particles into the conduit, the elongated particles having a width, w, a length, l>w. The propellant source and the conduit are configured to propel the elongated particles in a collimated particle stream toward the biological tissue. An alignment mechanism is configured to align a longitudinal axis of the elongated particles to be substantially parallel to a direction of the particle stream in an alignment region of the conduit. The aligned elongated particles are ejected from the conduit and impact the biological tissue.

Abstract: A method of making an ejector device. The method includes providing a substrate and forming one or more ejector conduits on the substrate. The one or more ejector conduits comprise: a first end configured to accept a print material; a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode pair that includes a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the ejector nozzle and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the ejector nozzle; and at least one passageway for allowing the print material to flow from the first end to the second end. A method of printing a three-dimensional object and a method for jetting print material from a printer jetting mechanism are also disclosed.

Abstract: First and second chiplets are positioned along a surface to respectively cover first and second electrodes. The first electrode is activated to cause an attraction force between the first electrode and the first chiplet. The second electrode is deactivated allowing the second chiplet to rotate on the surface. While the first electrode is activated and the second electrode is deactivated, a rotation field is applied to cause the second chiplet to be oriented at a desired orientation angle, the first chiplet being prevented from rotating by the attraction force.

Abstract: A micro-assembly system includes a reservoir that stores a supply of chiplets suspended in a suspension fluid. Each of the chiplets has a bottom major surface that defines a right side down orientation. The system includes a delivery surface or belt that delivers the chiplets from the reservoir to an assembly surface. The system includes a micro assembler that may arrange the first subset of the chiplets in a pattern on the assembly surface. The micro assembler moves the first subset of chiplets towards a subsequent assembly stage. The micro assembler has an array of field generators fixed relative to the assembly surface that move the first subset of the chiplets along the assembly surface in response to signals applied to each of the field generators.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer.

Abstract: An electrospray apparatus and a method of operating the electrospray apparatus can include an array of emitters that can emit a fog of charged droplets, wherein the charged droplets can be produced in a carrier gas by the array of emitters and directed into a development zone of a charge image. Each emitter among the array of emitters can be implemented as a cone-shaped emitter. The array of emitters can be implemented as a cone jet electrospray micro-array that can produce a high liquid concentration of the charged droplets in the carrier gas. The charged droplets can comprise charged fountain solution droplets, and the charge image can be a fountain solution image that can be transferrable to a blanket for control and subsequent ink transfer to a receiving medium.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes an ejector device for mixing and ejecting print material. The ejector device includes a substrate and a plurality of ejector conduits on the substrate. The ejector conduits are arranged in an array. Each ejector conduit includes a first passageway fluidly connecting a first end of the ejector conduit to a conduit junction. The first end is configured to accept a first print material. Each ejector conduit also includes a second passageway fluidly connecting a second end of the ejector conduit to the conduit junction. The second end is configured to accept a second print material. Each ejector conduit also includes a third passageway fluidly connecting a third end of the ejector conduit to the conduit junction. The third end includes an ejector nozzle. The ejector nozzle includes a first electrode and a second electrode.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes an ejector configured to receive a build material. The ejector includes a nozzle. The ejector is configured to eject a plurality of drops of the build material through the nozzle. The 3D printing system also includes a substrate positioned below the nozzle. The drops fall toward the substrate after being ejected from the nozzle. The drops form a 3D object on the substrate. The 3D printing system also includes a power source configured to generate an alternating electrical current. The 3D printing system also includes an electrode configured to generate a plasma in response to receiving the alternating electrical current. The drops, the 3D object, the substrate, or a combination thereof are positioned at least partially within the plasma.

Abstract: A build plate is configured for use in a 3D printer. The build plate comprises a base comprising a base material and one or more vacuum channels. A removable plate is disposed proximate the base so as to be in fluid communication with the vacuum channels.

Abstract: A computer adapted to convert images into raw data can provide the raw data to a control interface adapted to transmit the raw data with timing information to an electronic driver circuit. The electronic driver circuit can convert the raw data with the timing information provided by a control interface into regulated current signals provided to the semiconductor laser array at 300 dpi and higher. The semiconductor array can convert the current signals into light to illuminate an imaging member. The laser array can comprise vertical cavity surface emitting lasers providing imaging greater than 300 dpi. Each semiconductor laser can operate at 50 mW or greater.

Abstract: A method and system for stress engineering of a transparent material can include an imaging system that can visualize a spatial distribution of an internal stress in a transparent material, an actuator system that can induce stress in the transparent material, the actuator system comprising one or more actuator elements, and a feedback system that can communicate with the imaging system and the actuator system, and which can guide an internal stress distribution in the transparent material toward a preferred final state.

Abstract: A method of printing a three-dimensional object. The method includes: supplying a print material to a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, the ejector conduits comprising first ends configured to accept the print material and second ends comprising ejector nozzles; advancing the print material in one or more of the ejector conduits of the array until the print material is disposed in the ejector nozzle of the one or more ejector conduits; heating the print material positioned in at least one of the ejector nozzles using radiant energy, the heating causing at least a portion of the print material to be ejected from the at least one of the ejector nozzles and onto a print substrate; and repeating both the advancing the print material and the heating the print material to form a three-dimensional object on the print substrate.

Abstract: Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a rotatable charge-retentive reimageable surface layer configured to receive a layer of fountain solution. The fountain solution is carried to the charge retentive surface by a fog or mist including fountain solution aerosol particles, dispersed gas particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the fountain solution aerosol particles. The charge-retentive reimageable surface may be charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged fountain solution adheres to portions of the charge-retentive reimageable surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a fountain solution image thereon. The fountain solution image can be partially transferred to an imaging blanket, where the fountain solution image is inked. The resulting ink image may be transferred to a print substrate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer comprises a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A laser imager for a printing system, comprising a plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers arranged in a linear array on a common substrate chip and including a common cathode and a dedicated control channel associated with an address trace line for each laser of the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers, and optical elements arranged in a linear lens array configured to capture and focus light from the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers onto a imaging member, wherein the plurality of independently addressable surface emitting lasers arranged in a linear array and the optical elements arranged in a linear lens array operate together to image the imaging member.