Abstract: In an example, a method includes in an additive manufacturing process, generating a first object and generating an ancillary object on top of the first object to reduce a thermal gradient of the first object during cooling.

Abstract: A method of controlling temperature in an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object comprises performing a calibration test on a sample of build material that is to be used in generating a three-dimensional object, calibrating at least one temperature point from the calibration test, and using the at least one calibrated temperature point during subsequent temperature control of the apparatus.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes forming, at an additive manufacturing apparatus, a first layer of build material to be processed in the generation of an object. A print agent is selectively applied onto the first layer based on a first print instruction associated with the first layer. Energy is applied to the first layer to cause fusion in a region of the first layer. The method further comprises: measuring the temperature of the first layer at a plurality of locations to form a measured temperature distribution profile; comparing the measured temperature distribution profile against a predicted temperature distribution profile to generate a difference; and correcting a temperature distribution profile of a subsequent layer of the build material following fusion of the subsequent layer based on the difference by modifying a second print instruction associated with the subsequent layer.

Abstract: A method includes printing an image on substrate by a printhead using ultraviolet (UV) curable ink. The method includes selectively applying a first amount of UV radiation by a first region of a light source to a first area of the image after a first amount of time passes from printing the first area to form a first gloss level area having a glossy finish. The method also includes selectively applying a second amount of UV radiation by a second region of the light source to a second area of the image after a second amount of time passes from printing the second area to form a second gloss level area having a matte finish. At least one of the second amount of UV radiation is greater than the first amount of UV radiation and the first amount of time is greater than the second amount of time.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes measuring the temperature of a fused region and the temperature of an unfused region of a first layer of build material; determining a preheating setting for a subsequent layer of build material in response to the measured temperature of the unfused region of the first layer; determining a print instruction for applying print agent to the subsequent layer of build material, wherein the application of print agent prescribed by the print instruction for the subsequent layer to cause the temperature of the preheated build material to be a predetermined temperature prior to fusion in response to the measured temperature of the fused region of the first layer; forming the subsequent layer of build material; preheating the subsequent layer of build material in accordance with the preheating setting; and selectively applying the print agent onto the subsequent layer based on the print instruction.

Abstract: There is provided a method of generating print data for use by an additive manufacturing system to generate a plurality of 3D objects within a build chamber having a build surface. First spatial data defining a first 3D object and second spatial data defining a second 3D object is received. First print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture the first 3D object at least partly from a first build material. Intermediate print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture a partition comprising a 3D object configured to fill the build chamber in a plane parallel to the build surface. Second print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture the second 3D object at least partly from a second build material.

Abstract: Examples are described that generate control data for production of a three-dimensional object. Build material profile data is accessed for an indicated build material. The build material profile data for a given build material defines one or more parameter values that are dependent on the properties of the given build material and that are configured to generate a three-dimensional object with predefined build properties.

Abstract: Examples are described that generate control data (280) for production of a three-dimensional object. Build material profile data (260) is accessed for an indicated build material. The build material profile data for a given build material defines one or more parameter values that are dependent on the properties of the given build material and that are configured to generate a three-dimensional object with predefined build properties. Certain examples are arranged to generate control data for the production of a three-dimensional object by applying build material profile data to received object data (230).

Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to preparing a base of build material for additive manufacturing. The base is formed from layers of build material that do not form part of an object undergoing additive manufacture. The base is heated by the application of energy, for example using a radiation source. A thermal profile of the base is measured after heating and is used to determine a pattern of application of at least one printing agent to the base. The pattern of application is used to deposit the at least one printing agent upon the base, wherein the presence of the printing agent affects the heating of the base. In this way the pattern of application of printing agent may be used to effect a thermal homogeneity of the base.

Abstract: According to an example, a three-dimensional (3D) printer may include a delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto a layer of build materials and a controller to determine a preselected area on the layer of build materials at which the delivery device is to deliver liquid droplets, to determine a distribution at which gaps are to be formed in the delivery of the liquid droplets within the preselected area, and to control the delivery device to deliver the liquid droplets across the preselected area while forming the gaps at the determined distribution, in which the gaps are to form heat sinks in the build materials that are to prevent heat spikes from occurring across the build materials in the preselected area.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes measuring the temperature of a fused region and the temperature of an unfused region of a first layer of build material; determining a preheating setting for a subsequent layer of build material in response to the measured temperature of the unfused region of the first layer; determining a print instruction for applying print agent to the subsequent layer of build material, wherein the application of print agent prescribed by the print instruction for the subsequent layer to cause the temperature of the preheated build material to be a predetermined temperature prior to fusion in response to the measured temperature of the fused region of the first layer; forming the subsequent layer of build material; preheating the subsequent layer of build material in accordance with the preheating setting; and selectively applying the print agent onto the subsequent layer based on the print instruction.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes forming, at an additive manufacturing apparatus, a first layer of build material to be processed in the generation of an object. A print agent is selectively applied onto the first layer based on a first print instruction associated with the first layer. Energy is applied to the first layer to cause fusion in a region of the first layer. The method further comprises: measuring the temperature of the first layer at a plurality of locations to form a measured temperature distribution profile; comparing the measured temperature distribution profile against a predicted temperature distribution profile to generate a difference; and correcting a temperature distribution profile of a subsequent layer of the build material following fusion of the subsequent layer based on the difference by modifying a second print instruction associated with the subsequent layer.

Abstract: According to an example, a 3D printer may include a delivery device and a controller. The controller may access a morphology of a part to be formed from a plurality of build materials in a layer, determine, based upon the accessed morphology, a first delivery pattern for the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer during a first pass over the layer and a second delivery pattern for the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer during a second pass over the layer to control a property of the part formed of some of the build materials in the layer. The controller may also control the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer according to the determined first and second delivery patterns respectively during the first pass and the second pass.

Abstract: In an example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus to generate a three dimensional object comprises processing successive layers of build material so as to form successive layers of a three dimensional object, wherein the processing of each layer is performed within a predetermined layer processing time by a plurality of components. The method may further include selecting, by at least one processor, from a plurality of ancillary tasks, at least one ancillary task to be performed in relation to at least one component of the plurality of components. The method may further include scheduling, by at least one processor, the at least one ancillary task to be performed in relation to the at least one component within the predetermined layer processing time for a single layer or for multiple layers of the build material.

Abstract: In some examples, an agent distributor may be to selectively deliver agent through nozzles of the agent distributor to portions of layers of build material in patterns derived from agent delivery control data representing slices of a three-dimensional object such that the portions are to solidify to form the slices in accordance with the patterns. While generating the three-dimensional object, the agent distributor may be primed such that a particle of the build material is removed from the agent distributor through at least one of the nozzles.

Abstract: There is disclosed additive manufacturing apparatus comprising: a controller (110) to: receive object data relating to an object to be generated; and define print data for additive manufacture of the object by ejection of a print agent on build material in a pattern corresponding to selective fusing of the build material, wherein the print data is defined based on the object data so that the pattern defines a shield feature (56) embedded within the object to inhibit fusing of build material corresponding to the shield feature relative build material corresponding to an adjacent portion of the object; and a print agent distributor (104) to eject a print agent on build material based on the print data.

Abstract: Examples include apparatuses, processes, and methods for generating three-dimensional objects. An example apparatus comprises build material distributor and a controller. Examples distribute a particular build layer in a build area of the apparatus over a previous build layer. Examples determine a build layer temperature corresponding to the particular build layer. Examples analyze build layer coverage for the particular build layer based at least in part on a build layer temperature of the previous build layer and the build layer temperature of the particular build layer. Examples selectively recoat the particular build layer with additional build material based at least in part on the build layer coverage for the particular build layer.

Abstract: Temperatures of a layer of build material on a support member may be detected. Each of the temperatures corresponding to a respective area of the layer. Based on data representing the three-dimensional object, a subset of the temperatures may be filtered from spatial temperature distribution data comprising the temperatures. A degree of heat or energy applied to the layer may be controlled based on the filtered spatial temperature distribution data.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a method of 3D printing. The method comprises generating, within a volume of build material, a volume of solidified build material, and marking a predetermined portion of unsolidified build material within the build volume with a marking agent.

Abstract: There is provided a method of generating print data for use by an additive manufacturing system to generate a plurality of 3D objects within a build chamber having a build surface. First spatial data defining a first 3D object and second spatial data defining a second 3D object is received. First print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture the first 3D object at least partly from a first build material. Intermediate print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture a partition comprising a 3D object configured to fill the build chamber in a plane parallel to the build surface. Second print data is generated to cause the additive manufacturing system to manufacture the second 3D object at least partly from a second build material.