Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stripping away portions of substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a flexible and/or soft impact-element(s) rotates around a rotation axis to drive a peripheral portion across a substrate plane of the substrate and/or to repeatedly collide with the substrate. At least some of the collisions are effective to partially dislodge or to strip away portion(s) of substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stripping away portions of substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a flexible and/or soft impact-element(s) rotates around a rotation axis to drive a peripheral portion across a substrate plane of the substrate and/or to repeatedly collide with the substrate. At least some of the collisions are effective to partially dislodge or to strip away portion(s) of substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a stack of pre-stripped layers of substrate. Each object layer is formed by (i) providing substrate comprising waste portion(s) and substrate-retained portion(s) that are attached to each other and separated from one another by cut(s) within the substrate; (ii) subsequently, subjecting the subject of each layer to a stripping process which selectively strips away substrate-waste portion(s) from the substrate-retained portion(s). After stripping, the object layer is added to a stack of previously-stacked object layers to grow the stack. This process is repeated to further grow the stack. Object layers of the stack are bonded to each other to build the three-dimensional object therefrom. Apparatus and methods for stripping are also described—any teaching or combination of teaching(s) related to stripping substrate may be employed in any additive-manufacturing process described herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a stack of pre-stripped layers of substrate. Each object layer is formed by (i) providing substrate comprising waste portion(s) and substrate-retained portion(s) that are attached to each other and separated from one another by cut(s) within the substrate; (ii) subsequently, subjecting the subject of each layer to a stripping process which selectively strips away substrate-waste portion(s) from the substrate-retained portion(s). After stripping, the object layer is added to a stack of previously-stacked object layers to grow the stack. This process is repeated to further grow the stack. Object layers of the stack are bonded to each other to build the three-dimensional object therefrom. Apparatus and methods for stripping are also described—any teaching or combination of teaching(s) related to stripping substrate may be employed in any additive-manufacturing process described herein.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stripping away portions of substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a flexible and/or soft impact-element(s) rotates around a rotation axis to drive a peripheral portion across a substrate plane of the substrate and/or to repeatedly collide with the substrate. At least some of the collisions are effective to partially dislodge or to strip away portion(s) of substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling an ink supply system includes operating a pump of the ink supply system in a forward direction to supply ink from an ink reservoir to an ink tank, and subsequent to operating the pump in the forward direction, reversing the pump and operating the pump in a reverse direction to prevent or reduce formation of clogs within the ink supply system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling an ink supply system includes operating a pump of the ink supply system in a forward direction to supply ink from an ink reservoir to an ink tank, and subsequent to operating the pump in the forward direction, reversing the pump and operating the pump in a reverse direction to prevent or reduce formation of clogs within the ink supply system.