Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system to print three-dimensional objects and a method of printed are disclosed. The system includes a printing apparatus to print three-dimensional objects and a controller to receive data from a material supply source and to control said printing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model by sequentially forming layers of photopolymer material one on top of the other responsive to data defining the three-dimensional model is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one printing head configured to dispense the photopolymer material, an array of LEDs controllable to provide radiation to polymerize the photopolymer material and a controller. The controller is configured to control the at least one printing head to dispense the photopolymer material to sequentially form the layers of material. The controller is also configured to turn on the array of LEDs to provide the radiation to cure the photopolymer material when situated above the model and to turn off the array of LEDs when not situated above the model.

Abstract: A method for preventing detachment of a three-dimensional object from a printing tray of a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes printing a carpet of building material below and around the base of a three-dimensional object to be printed; and printing said three-dimensional object. The portions of the carpet that protrude out of the boundaries of the base of the three-dimensional object are coated with one or more layers of support material to help keep the carpet flexible and adhesive in texture.

Abstract: Inkjet head cleaning and storage includes cleaning an orifice plate by inserting a tip of a shaped wiper into a slit of a printing mask, such that one or more shoulders of a handling end of the shaped wiper are in contact with respectively one or more edges of the slit. The shoulders of the shaped wiper facilitate the tip applying a predetermined pressure to an orifice surface during wiping. Preventing sediment buildup during extended periods of non-printing includes placing at least the orifice plate of the printing head in a protecting liquid that avoids evaporation of the volatile liquid from the nozzles. An innovative “night plate” can be used to seal the slit of a printing mask and ink purged from the printing head used to fill a gap between the printing head and the mask, thereby covering at least the orifice plate with purged ink.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model by sequentially forming layers of photopolymer material one on top of the other responsive to data defining the three-dimensional model is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one printing head configured to dispense the photopolymer material, an array of LEDs controllable to provide radiation to polymerize the photopolymer material and a controller. The controller is configured to control the at least one printing head to dispense the photopolymer material to sequentially form the layers of material. The controller is also configured to turn on the array of LEDs to provide the radiation to cure the photopolymer material when situated above the model and to turn off the array of LEDs when not situated above the model.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system to print three-dimensional objects and a method of printed are disclosed. The system includes a printing apparatus to print three-dimensional objects and a controller to receive data from a material supply source and to control said printing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing device for dispending material on a heated substrate is provided. The device may include a printing head having one or more nozzles and a heat shield that partially masks a side of the printing head that faces the heated substrate when printing so as to reduce heat transfer from the substrate to the printing head. The shield includes a slot aligned with the one or more nozzles to enable passage of material from the one or more nozzles to the heated substrate.

Abstract: Inkjet head cleaning and storage includes cleaning an orifice plate by inserting a tip of a shaped wiper into a slit of a printing mask, such that one or more shoulders of a handling end of the shaped wiper are in contact with respectively one or more edges of the slit. The shoulders of the shaped wiper facilitate the tip applying a predetermined pressure to an orifice surface during wiping. Preventing sediment buildup during extended periods of non-printing includes placing at least the orifice plate of the printing head in a protecting liquid that avoids evaporation of the volatile liquid from the nozzles. An innovative “night plate” can be used to seal the slit of a printing mask and ink purged from the printing head used to fill a gap between the printing head and the mask, thereby covering at least the orifice plate with purged ink.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system to print three-dimensional objects and a method of printed are disclosed. The system includes a printing apparatus to print three-dimensional objects and a controller to receive data from a material supply source and to control said printing apparatus.

Abstract: Printing systems are disclosed for preventing sediment buildup. In one implementation, a printing system is provided. The printing system includes a print area and a print head housing configured to enclose a print head spaced from the print area. The print head has a plurality of nozzles for expelling a printing liquid therefrom. The printing system further includes a pipe for interconnecting the print head with a reservoir, a pump for circulating the printing liquid from the reservoir to the print head and through the plurality of nozzles, and a processor. The processor may cause the pump to circulate the printing liquid to the print head and through the plurality of nozzles during a period of non-printing. In one embodiment, circulating the printing liquid includes flowing the printing liquid from the reservoir to the print head and from a retainer located below the plurality of nozzles back to the reservoir.

Abstract: A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.

Abstract: A printing device for dispending material on a heated substrate is provided. The device may include a printing head having one or more nozzles and a heat shield that partially masks a side of the printing head that faces the heated substrate when printing so as to reduce heat transfer from the substrate to the printing head. The shield includes a slot aligned with the one or more nozzles to enable passage of material from the one or more nozzles to the heated substrate.

Abstract: A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure, the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles.

Abstract: A printing device for dispending material on a heated substrate is provided. The device may include a printing head having one or more nozzles and a heat shield that partially masks a side of the printing head that faces the heated substrate when printing so as to reduce heat transfer from the substrate to the printing head. The shield includes a slot aligned with the one or more nozzles to enable passage of material from the one or more nozzles to the heated substrate.

Abstract: A method for preventing detachment of a three-dimensional object from a printing tray of a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes printing a carpet of building material below and around the base of a three-dimensional object to be printed; and printing said three-dimensional object. The portions of the carpet that protrude out of the boundaries of the base of the three-dimensional object are coated with one or more layers of support material to help keep the carpet flexible and adhesive in texture.

Abstract: A method of printing is provided where printing is using a first printing unit having redundant nozzles. Then, the method may include stopping the printing with the first printing unit while continuing the printing with active nozzles of a second printing unit. The method may include inspecting the first printing unit and identifying faulty nozzles, then designating the faulty nozzles as inactive and designating inactive nozzles of the first printing unit as a new active nozzle. According to some embodiments the method may include moving the first printing unit to an inspection zone prior to inspecting while continuing the printing with active nozzles of a second printing unit and moving the first printing unit back to the printing zone after inspection and continuing the printing with the first printing unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of printing lines. A method may include positioning a plurality of print units according to a predefined spacing parameter. A method may include depositing material on a substrate by a plurality of print units to form a respective plurality of parallel lines according to a predefined spacing parameter. A printing unit may be positioned at an angle with respect to a predefined scan direction such that a predefined width of a printed line is achieved. A substrate may be rotated between scans such that a plurality of lines in a respective plurality of directions is printed in a scan direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides additive manufacturing apparatuses and maintenance methods. For example, in one embodiment an additive manufacturing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a reservoir configured to contain additive manufacturing material and a supply conduit for interconnecting the reservoir with a print head. The apparatus further includes a regulator configured to control pressure of additive manufacturing material in the print head to trigger purging of the print head and an air-ink separator configured to receive a mixture of air and purged additive manufacturing material. The air-ink separator is configured to reclaim at least a portion of the additive manufacturing material from the mixture.

Abstract: A method of printing is provided where printing is using a first printing unit having redundant nozzles. Then, the method may include stopping the printing with the first printing unit while continuing the printing with active nozzles of a second printing unit. The method may include inspecting the first printing unit and identifying faulty nozzles, then designating the faulty nozzles as inactive and designating inactive nozzles of the first printing unit as a new active nozzle. According to some embodiments the method may include moving the first printing unit to an inspection zone prior to inspecting while continuing the printing with active nozzles of a second printing unit and moving the first printing unit back to the printing zone after inspection and continuing the printing with the first printing unit.