Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an additively manufactured part, comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of compacted composite filaments arranged in layers between the top portion and the bottom portion, each compacted composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands, wherein the plurality of compacted composite filaments includes a first compacted composite filament located in a first layer and a second compacted composite filament located in a second layer, the first layer being located closer to the bottom portion than the second layer, and wherein the second compacted composite filament layer is compressed against the first compacted composite filament, forming a vertically bonded rank in which the one or more axial fiber strands of the second compacted composite filament intrudes into the first compacted composite filament.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: Successive layers of a wall of a part are deposited to form a first access channel extending from an exterior of the part to an interior of the part, as well as to form a distribution channel connecting an interior volume of the honeycomb infill to the first access channel. A binder matrix retaining sinterable powder is debound by flowing a debinding fluid through the first access channel and the distribution channel within the interior volume of the honeycomb infill.

Abstract: A method comprising supplying a first brown part and a second brown part, each of the first and second brown parts formed from a material in which more than 50 percent of powder particles of a second powdered metal have a diameter less than 10 microns, in a first mode, loading the first brown part into a fused tube, and ramping a temperature inside the fused tube at greater than 10 degrees C. per minute but less than 40 degrees C. per minute to a first sintering temperature from 500-700 degrees C., and in a second mode, loading the second brown part into the fused tube, and ramping the temperature inside the fused tube at greater than 10 degrees C. per minute but less than 40 degrees C. per minute to a second sintering tempering temperature from 1000-1200 degrees C.

Abstract: A method comprising depositing a part from layers of model material including sinterable metal particles and a first binder, the part surrounding a hole, depositing a first support structure from layers of the model material within the hole, depositing a first release layer of a release material above the first support structure and within the hole, the release material including a dispersed ceramic powder and a second binder, depositing a second release layer of a release material below the first support structure and within the hole, and forming a multipiece assembly of the part, the first and second release layers, and the first support structure, wherein, during sintering, the part and first support structure are configured to densify as a whole at a uniform rate, the release material is configured to reduce to a loose ceramic powder, and the first support structure is configured to prevent distortion of the hole.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method of sintering a brown part article formed from a powdered sinterable material, comprising placing a brown part integrally formed from a first powder having a first sintering temperature in a powder bed within a crucible, the powder bed including a second powder having a second sintering temperature more than 300 degrees C. higher than the first sintering temperature, agitating the second powder to fill internal cavities of the brown part, continually resisting a weight of an unsupported portion of the brown part with the second powder, sintering the brown part at the first temperature without sintering the second powder to form a sintered part, and removing the sintered part from the powder bed. In at least one embodiment, agitating includes fluidizing the second powder by flowing a pressurized gas into the bottom of the crucible.

Abstract: A method comprising depositing, in layers, a shrinking platform formed from a composite including metal particles embedded in a first matrix, depositing shrinking supports of the composite upon the shrinking platform, forming a separation clearance dividing at least one shrinking support into fragments, depositing, from the composite, a part upon the shrinking platform and shrinking supports, depositing a separation material intervening between the part and the shrinking supports, the separation material including a ceramic powder and a second matrix, and forming, from the shrinking platform, shrinking supports, separation material, and part, a portable platform assembly in a green state, wherein the shrinking support is configured to prevent the portable platform assembly from distorting from gravitational force during sintering of the metal particles of the assembly in a brown state, and wherein the ceramic powder of the separation material is configured to separate the shrinking support from the part follo

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a shrinking platform of layers of a composite, the composite including a metal particulate filler in a first matrix, forming a shrinking support of layers of the composite upon the shrinking platform, forming a first release layer of a release material upon the shrinking support, the release material including a ceramic particulate and a second matrix, and forming a part of the composite upon the shrinking support to form a portable assembly from the combined shrinking platform, shrinking support, release layer and part, wherein substantially horizontal portions of the part are vertically supported by the shrinking platform, wherein the first release layer is configured, after sintering, to separate the part from the shrinking support and to allow the part to be readily removed from the shrinking support, and wherein the shrinking support is configured to prevent the part from distorting during sintering.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a method comprising forming a shrinking platform of model material above a build plate, the model material including sinterable metal particles and a first binder, forming a support structure of the model material extending up from the shrinking platform, forming a first portion of the part from successive layers of the model material above the support structure, forming a release layer intervening between a surface of the part and an opposing surface of the support structure or between a surface of the shrinking platform and an opposing surface of the build plate, the release layer including a dispersed ceramic powder and a second binder, and supporting the part, the release layer, and the support structure upon the shrinking platform to form a platform-integrating part assembly, the support structure being configured to prevent the first portion from distorting from gravitational force during sintering.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.

Abstract: A method comprising depositing, in layers, a shrinking platform formed from a composite including metal particles embedded in a first matrix, depositing shrinking supports of the composite upon the shrinking platform, forming a separation clearance dividing at least one shrinking support into fragments, depositing, from the composite, a part upon the shrinking platform and shrinking supports, depositing a separation material intervening between the part and the shrinking supports, the separation material including a ceramic powder and a second matrix, and forming, from the shrinking platform, shrinking supports, separation material, and part, a portable platform assembly in a green state, wherein the shrinking support is configured to prevent the portable platform assembly from distorting from gravitational force during sintering of the metal particles of the assembly in a brown state, and wherein the ceramic powder of the separation material is configured to separate the shrinking support from the part follo

Abstract: To reduce distortion in an additively manufactured part, a shrinking platform is formed from a metal particulate filler in a debindable matrix. Shrinking supports of the same material are formed above the shrinking platform, and a desired part of the same material is formed upon them. A sliding release layer is provided below the shrinking platform of equal or larger surface area than a bottom of the shrinking platform to lateral resistance between the shrinking platform and an underlying surface. The matrix is debound sufficient to form a shape-retaining brown part assembly including the shrinking platform, shrinking supports, and the desired part. The shape-retaining brown part assembly is heated to shrink all of the components together at a same rate via atomic diffusion.

Abstract: A method comprising forming a shrinking platform of layers of a composite, the composite including a metal particulate filler in a first matrix, forming a shrinking support of layers of the composite upon the shrinking platform, forming a first release layer of a release material upon the shrinking support, the release material including a ceramic particulate and a second matrix, and forming a part of the composite upon the shrinking support to form a portable assembly from the combined shrinking platform, shrinking support, release layer and part, wherein substantially horizontal portions of the part are vertically supported by the shrinking platform, wherein the first release layer is configured, after sintering, to separate the part from the shrinking support and to allow the part to be readily removed from the shrinking support, and wherein the shrinking support is configured to prevent the part from distorting during sintering.

Abstract: A method comprising depositing a part from layers of model material including sinterable metal particles and a first binder, the part surrounding a hole, depositing a first support structure from layers of the model material within the hole, depositing a first release layer of a release material above the first support structure and within the hole, the release material including a dispersed ceramic powder and a second binder, depositing a second release layer of a release material below the first support structure and within the hole, and forming a multipiece assembly of the part, the first and second release layers, and the first support structure, wherein, during sintering, the part and first support structure are configured to densify as a whole at a uniform rate, the release material is configured to reduce to a loose ceramic powder, and the first support structure is configured to prevent distortion of the hole.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a method comprising forming a shrinking platform of model material above a build plate, the model material including sinterable metal particles and a first binder, forming a support structure of the model material extending up from the shrinking platform, forming a first portion of the part from successive layers of the model material above the support structure, forming a release layer intervening between a surface of the part and an opposing surface of the support structure or between a surface of the shrinking platform and an opposing surface of the build plate, the release layer including a dispersed ceramic powder and a second binder, and supporting the part, the release layer, and the support structure upon the shrinking platform to form a platform-integrating part assembly, the support structure being configured to prevent the first portion from distorting from gravitational force during sintering.

Abstract: To build a part with a deposition-based additive manufacturing system with a binder matrix and a sinterable powder, walls of a part, sintering supports, or interconnecting platform are formed with access, distribution or routing channels therein to permit debinding fluid to pass through and/or enter the interior of the same.

Abstract: To build a part with a deposition-based additive manufacturing system using a polymer-based binder of a composite feedstock, a first tool path of a perimeter contour segment and a second tool path that is parallel and adjacent are deposited in retrograde directions to produce stress-offsetting adjacent paths, where directions of residual stress within the polymer-based binder of the composite are opposite in the stress-offsetting adjacent path.