Abstract: A hot end associated with an extruder for a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) three dimensional (3D) printer includes, in at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification: a heater; a temperature sensor coupled with the heater; an FFF material delivery channel; a heat sink coupled with the FFF material delivery channel; a nozzle coupled with the FFF material delivery channel and with the heater, the nozzle having a total included angle of less than or equal to sixty degrees and greater than or equal to ten degrees, with respect to a nozzle target point; and a cooling delivery system for at least the heat sink; where the heat sink, the heater, the temperature sensor, the FFF material delivery channel, the nozzle, and the cooling delivery system are all contained within a volume defined by the total included angle with respect to the nozzle target point.

Abstract: A system for fabricating an object includes an extruder for one or more deposition materials having at least one nozzle and a movable support for the nozzle. The nozzle has a nozzle axis and is rotatably attached to the movable support via a connector that is actuatable relative to the movable support to change an angular orientation of the nozzle axis, thus varying an angle between the nozzle axis and a deposition surface. The system also includes a controller that can apply a correction factor calculated for a path of the nozzle when an acute angle is formed between the nozzle axis and the deposition surface, the correction factor for moving toward the acute angle being different from that when moving away from it. The correction factor removes differences in thickness of the deposited material caused by variations in the angle formed between the nozzle axis and the deposition surface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for suggesting products from available parts. A plurality of available parts in an inventory is identified, including identifying at least one assembly of plural individual parts or sub-assemblies. For each assembly, plural sub-assemblies or individual parts included in a respective assembly are determined. An inventory list is created that includes the plurality of available parts, the at least one assembly, and the determined sub-assemblies or individual parts of an assembly. An inventory of products is identified that constitute assemblies. Each product in the inventory of products has a respective parts list identifying parts required to build the product. The inventory list is evaluated including comparing the inventory list to the inventory of products to locate candidate products constructible using the elements included in the inventory list. Product suggestions are output.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing design DNA for a non-biological product. One of the methods includes, identifying an instantiation of a product, the product being non-biologic and being a manufactured item; determining design parameters to be associated with the instantiation of the product. The determining includes: evaluating the instantiation of the product, determining a design intent including an intended use or life of the instantiation of the product, and determining design parameters that were used in developing a design associated with the instantiation of the product.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to three dimensional (3D) delta printers, such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D delta printers include, in at least one aspect, a 3D delta printer that includes a build platform; a 3D printer delta motion system; and a space frame configured and arranged to support the 3D printer delta motion system as the 3D printer delta motion system moves relative to the build platform; wherein the space frame includes multiple triangular units surrounding a build volume above the build platform.

Abstract: A system for fabricating an object includes an extruder for one or more deposition materials having at least one nozzle and a movable support for the nozzle. The nozzle has a nozzle axis and is rotatably attached to the movable support via a connector that is actuatable relative to the movable support to change an angular orientation of the nozzle axis, thus varying an angle between the nozzle axis and a deposition surface. The system also includes a controller that can apply a correction factor calculated for a path of the nozzle when an acute angle is formed between the nozzle axis and the deposition surface, the correction factor for moving toward the acute angle being different from that when moving away from it. The correction factor removes differences in thickness of the deposited material caused by variations in the angle formed between the nozzle axis and the deposition surface.

Abstract: A method includes: providing a matrix material and a fiber material separate from the matrix material to a fused deposition modelling (FDM) three dimensional (3D) printer; and delivering the matrix material and the fiber material to a printing location of the FDM 3D printer while maintaining separation of the fiber material from the matrix material up to the printing location of the FDM 3D printer, wherein the delivering includes melting the matrix material and embedding the fiber material within the matrix material. Further, a system includes: a build platform; and two or more tools associated with the build platform; wherein the two or more tools are configured and arranged with respect to the build platform to add matrix material and fiber material in non-planar layers to build the object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining 3D printing customizations for a user. One of the methods includes receiving data indicating a selection of a product design by a user for creation of a three-dimensional product that includes a plurality of attributes, determining a style which includes values for some of the plurality of attributes and that is associated with the user, for each of the plurality of attributes determining whether the style includes a value for the respective attribute, and upon determining that the style includes a value for the respective attribute, customizing the product design using the value for the respective attribute, or upon determining that the style does not include a value for the respective attribute, customizing the product design using a default value for the respective attribute, and providing data for the customized product design for the three-dimensional product.

Abstract: A system for fabricating an object includes an extruder for one or more deposition materials. The extruder has at least one nozzle with a nozzle tip that includes an exit orifice and has a width that is equal to or larger than a width of the exit orifice. The system also includes a controller coupled with the extruder, the controller configured to apply a correction factor that has been calculated for a path of the nozzle based on a slope of a surface of an object to be fabricated. The correction factor for a positive slope is different from that for a negative slope. The extruder is configured to cause movement of the nozzle along the path to deposit material on the slope of the surface of the object, and the correction factor removes differences in thickness of the deposited material caused by the slope in relation to the path.

Abstract: A system includes a first system configured and arranged to combine at least two different input materials; a controller coupled with the first system and configured to independently control a feed rate for each of the different input materials into the first system to generate a processed material that varies in composition along its length; and a second system configured and arranged to add syncing features to the processed material. The syncing features are useable by a material deposition system to synchronize the variation in composition of the processed material during additive manufacturing of an object using the processed material. The controller can configured to create data usable by the material deposition system to sync the processed material with locations of the object during additive manufacturing. Further, the second system can include a material shaping system, and the syncing features can include shapes added to the processed material.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and apparatus include, in one aspect, a material deposition system including an extruder for deposition materials, the extruder including two or more material entry ports, a mixing chamber, and an exit orifice; and a controller coupled with the extruder to dynamically change delivery rates of the deposition materials to be mixed in the mixing chamber before flowing from the exit orifice; wherein the controller combines a desired volume flow rate of material to flow from the exit orifice with a mix ratio to specify the delivery rates of the deposition materials. The system can include filament drive systems to feed the thermoplastic materials in filament form into the entry ports, and the controller can dynamically change the mix ratio when operating the filament drive systems to control one or more properties of the material to flow from the exit orifice.