Abstract: A three-dimensional printer comprising means for build material, a printer carriage and a curtain. The means for depositing the build material deposits same on a printing zone and/or on one or more build material layers deposited on the printing zone. The printer carriage is to move along a first axis over the printing zone and comprises means for treating the build material. The curtain is attached to a first side of the printer carriage with a first side of the curtain and/or configured to move along with the printer carriage such that the curtain covers at least an area of the print zone, wherein the area varies dependent on the moving of the printer carriage over the print zone.

Abstract: Method and devices for calibrating heat sensors are provided. The heat sensors may measure, from a distance, temperatures of build materials arranged on build platforms. Using the heat sensors, remote temperature measurements of regions may be acquired from a distance. Using temperature sensors integrated in the build platforms, local temperature measurements of regions of the build platforms may be acquired. The local temperature measurements may be compared with the remote temperature measurements to calculate differences. Correction factors associated with the calculated differences may then be applied when acquiring temperature measurements using the heat sensors.

Abstract: Certain examples relate to encoding data into three-dimensional objects. In one case, a location of a set of terminals to be accessed on an outer surface of the object after fabrication is determined. A mapping between data to be encoded and an electrical property to be measured via a conductive coupling and an embedded electrical structure with the electrical property are determined. Control data is generated to instruct the fabrication of the object with the set of terminals and the embedded electrical structure.

Abstract: Examples relate to back electromotive force controllers for influencing movement of a carriage of a device in an unpowered state; the carriage being moveable by a motor responsive to a motor driver; the controller comprising: braking circuitry to couple power associated with a back electromotive force generated by displacement of the motor, due to carriage movement. to power the motor driver to urge the motor in a contrary direction to the displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a print operation on a 3D printer (110) are described herein. A 3D printing apparatus comprising a 3D printer (110) is arranged to perform a print operation using build material from a build unit (120) unless a value that identifies a first build material stored in the build unit in a first register, which is set according to an initial build powder fill operation of the build unit (120) by a powder management station, is different from a value in a second register, which is set according to the initial build powder fill operation, or modified in response to, or following, a subsequent opening of the build unit (120).

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a management system to control a 3D printing system that includes at least one 3D printer, at least one build unit in which 3D objects can be generated by the 3D printer, and at least one material processing unit in which processing operations can be performed on the build unit. The management system comprises a processor to obtain status data from at least some of the elements of the 3D printing system, to obtain data relating to a print job to be printed, to determine, from the obtained data, a schedule of operations to be performed by elements of the 3D printing system and to generate control data to allow enforcement of the determined schedule.

Abstract: Management system to control a 3D printing system that includes at least one 3D printer, at least one build unit in which 3D objects can be generated by the 3D printer, and at least one material processing unit in which processing operations can be performed on the build unit. The management system comprises a processor to obtain status data from at least some of the elements of the 3D printing system, to obtain data relating to a print job to be printed, to determine, from the obtained data, a schedule of operations to be performed by elements of the 3D printing system and to generate control data to allow enforcement of the determined schedule.

Abstract: In an example, a method comprises providing a layer of build material on a support, and applying energy to the layer of build material using an energy source. The method may further comprise reducing a spacing between the energy source and the support and following the reduction of the spacing, applying energy to the layer of build material using the energy source to cause fusion in at least part of the layer of build material.

Abstract: A 3D printing system comprising: a selective solidification module to: form a printed article by processing a build material; and form a printed container encompassing the printed article and a portion of unused build material about the printed article, the printed container defining a first port and a second port fluidly connected to the first port. The 3D printing system further comprises a connector to couple to the first port or second port of the printed container; and a pump fluidly connected to the connector to cause a fluid to flow through the printed container from the first port to the second port such that the printed article is cooled by the fluid flow.

Abstract: Management system to control a 3D printing system that includes at least one 3D printer, at least one build unit in which 3D objects can be generated by the 3D printer, and at least one material processing unit in which processing operations can be performed on the build unit. The management system comprises a processor to obtain status data from at least some of the elements of the 3D printing system, to obtain data relating to a print job to be printed, to determine, from the obtained data, a schedule of operations to be performed by elements of the 3D printing system and to generate control data to allow enforcement of the determined schedule.

Abstract: Examples of a 3D printing apparatus arranged to perform a print operation using build material, and methods of operating such a 3D printing apparatus, are described. In one case, a 3D printer is arranged to perform a print operation using build material whilst a build material temperature sensed by the printer is below a threshold temperature of the build material. The printer is arranged to obtain a threshold temperature indicator in advance of a respective print operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a powder build material handling system for a three-dimensional printer. The system comprises a delivery system. The delivery system is to carry powder build material in a flow of gas from a powder build material supply. The delivery system is to filter the flow of gas to separate the powder build material from the flow of gas. The delivery system is to direct the filtered flow of gas to the powder build material supply to form a closed system.

Abstract: A method, control circuit and printing system to control data communications with a plurality of integrated circuits. The method comprises receiving a control signal indicating that a first integrated circuit in the plurality of integrated circuits has been connected to an interface; pausing data communication between a processor and a second integrated circuit in the plurality of circuits over a data bus; and sending an enable signal to transition a switch from an open state to a closed state to connect a power supply to the interface while data communication with the plurality of integrated circuits over the data bus is paused.

Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to a removable unit of an additive manufacturing system. The removable unit is connectable to a base unit. When connected and operational, the base unit supplies a first voltage to the removable unit via a first power coupling. The removable unit has a power supply unit that converts the first voltage to a second voltage. The second voltage may power a number of low voltage components. The removable unit also has a power multiplexer. When the first voltage is unavailable the removable unit switches the power multiplexer to use a second voltage that is supplied from the base unit via a second power coupling.

Abstract: An example method for measuring the amount of build material in a build material container of a 3D printer may comprise mounting a belt element tensioned between at least two shafts, and attaching a body to the belt element; driving the body towards a surface of the build material while measuring the advance and the speed of the belt element; detecting a reduction of the speed of the belt element, and determining that the body has then contacted the surface of the build material; and determining the position of the surface of the build material based at least on the measured advance of the belt element.

Abstract: In an example, a print device comprises: a heat pump (102) to extract heat from a fluid source to produce cooled fluid and to transfer the heat from the fluid source to heat a print material (108), wherein the cooled fluid is used to cool a component (106) of the print device.

Abstract: A build material container (100) may comprise a container body (102) enclosing a volume to contain a build material (104) for three-dimensional printing. In an example, the container body comprises a sidewall. A compressible wall element (108) may be disposed in the sidewall, wherein compression of the compressible portion wall element reduces the volume of the container. An opening (112) to introduce the build material into the container body may be disposed in an upper region of the sidewall.