Abstract: An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing, in particular extrusion based modelling, including a printhead for depositing modelling material and a base constituting a support for the three-dimensional object to be printed by the printhead. The printhead and the base are moveable with respect to each other for positioning and moving the printhead with respect to the base to form the three-dimensional object. The apparatus furthermore includes a cartridge containing rods of solid modelling material, and a feeding device adapted to feed the rods of modelling material from the cartridge to the printhead. The cartridge is adapted to be placed on the feeding device.

Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, and a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a decreasing third diameter from the first diameter to the second diameter, and an inner surface of the transitional portion is provided with a plurality of ribs. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier tube including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a monotonically decreasing third diameter from the feeding portion to the outlet portion and the third diameter as function of a longitudinal position of the feed channel in the transitional portion between the feeding portion and the outlet portion and at a transition between the transitional portion and the outlet portion is differentiable. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, the liquefier tube including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a monotonically decreasing third diameter from the feeding portion to the outlet portion and the third diameter as function of a longitudinal position of the feed channel in the transitional portion between the feeding portion and the outlet portion and at a transition between the transitional portion and the outlet portion is differentiable. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A printhead assembly having connection for connecting to a positioning system of an AM system, a feedstock liquefying unit having a nozzle for depositing liquefied AM feedstock onto at least one of a build plate and an object to be created. The feedstock liquefying unit has a supply opening and a supply channel from the supply opening to the nozzle. The printhead assembly has heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly, arranged to establish a releasable clamping connection with the feedstock liquefying unit to accommodate the feedstock liquefying unit in the printhead assembly. The heat exchanging elements are actuatable to an open state, and a closed state. A system for additive manufacturing, including a build plate, a positioning system associated with at least one of the printhead assembly and the build plate, a feedstock liquefying unit storage, a controller arranged for controlling the positioning system for replacing the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: A liquefier tube for an additive manufacturing system, including a body provided with a feed channel including a feeding portion having a first diameter, an outlet portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, and a transitional portion interconnecting the feeding portion and the outlet portion. The transitional portion has a decreasing third diameter from the first diameter to the second diameter, and an inner surface of the transitional portion is provided with a plurality of ribs. Methods of manufacturing the liquefier tube.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing, having at least one printhead assembly that includes a feedstock liquefying unit for liquefying and depositing feedstock material via a nozzle, heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly being provided with a receiving space that is configured and arranged to receive the feedstock liquefying unit, and a connection arrangement that includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element that are configured and arranged to one of establish a releasable connection with each other and disconnect the releasable connection upon rotating the first and second connecting elements with respect to each other. The system further including a feedstock liquefying unit storage, having an actuating device that enables assembling and disassembling the connecting arrangement to automatically exchange the feedstock liquefying unit, and a controller for controlling automatic exchange of the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal indicative for nozzle maintenance, including feeding modeling material through a feed channel of a printhead to a nozzle of the printhead in a three-dimensional modeling system, determining a parameter indicative of a fluid resistance of modeling material within the nozzle. Determining the parameter includes determining a flowrate of the modeling material within the feed channel, determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, determining a pressure difference between the pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and the pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, and calculating the parameter from the determined flow rate and the determined pressure difference.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling system for creating an object having a printhead having a tubular feed member and a nozzle having a nozzle outlet for dispensing modeling material. The tubular feed member having a feed channel for feeding the modeling material to the nozzle outlet. The system further having modeling material feeding means arranged at an end of the tubular feed member opposite of the nozzle, wherein the modeling material feeding means are arranged for exerting a pressure on the modeling material within the feed channel towards the nozzle. The system further having a pressure determining means for determining a first parameter indicative for a pressure exerted on the modeling material. The system further having a control system arranged for controlling the modeling material feeding means based on the determined first parameter indicative for a pressure exerted on the modeling material. A method of three-dimensional modeling using the system.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing, having at least one printhead assembly that includes a feedstock liquefying unit for liquefying and depositing feedstock material via a nozzle, heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly being provided with a receiving space that is configured and arranged to receive the feedstock liquefying unit, and a connection arrangement that includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element that are configured and arranged to one of establish a releasable connection with each other and disconnect the releasable connection upon rotating the first and second connecting elements with respect to each other. The system further including a feedstock liquefying unit storage, having an actuating device that enables assembling and disassembling the connecting arrangement to automatically exchange the feedstock liquefying unit, and a controller for controlling automatic exchange of the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal indicative for nozzle maintenance, including feeding modeling material through a feed channel of a printhead to a nozzle of the printhead in a three-dimensional modeling system, determining a parameter indicative of a fluid resistance of modeling material within the nozzle. Determining the parameter includes determining a flowrate of the modeling material within the feed channel, determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and determining a pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, determining a pressure difference between the pressure exerted on the modeling material within the feed channel and the pressure exerted on the modeling material outside the feed channel, and calculating the parameter from the determined flow rate and the determined pressure difference.

Abstract: A printhead assembly having connection for connecting to a positioning system of an AM system, a feedstock liquefying unit having a nozzle for depositing liquefied AM feedstock onto at least one of a build plate and an object to be created. The feedstock liquefying unit has a supply opening and a supply channel from the supply opening to the nozzle. The printhead assembly has heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly, arranged to establish a releasable clamping connection with the feedstock liquefying unit to accommodate the feedstock liquefying unit in the printhead assembly. The heat exchanging elements are actuatable to an open state, and a closed state. A system for additive manufacturing, including a build plate, a positioning system associated with at least one of the printhead assembly and the build plate, a feedstock liquefying unit storage, a controller arranged for controlling the positioning system for replacing the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compensating deviations in a deforming operation between two beams of a press, comprising of arranging one or more compensating element at a suitably chosen location in the press, detecting the deviations and moving the compensating element(s) relative to the beams by (electro) mechanical means during the deforming operation such that the detected deviations are compensated. The compensating elements can be moved here to an over-compensating position prior to the deforming operation and pressed out of their over-compensating position during the operation by the load on the beam, wherein each compensating element exerts an adjustable resistance force on surrounding parts of the press. The compensating elements each can be pressed stepwise to a position compensating the detected deviations during the deforming operation. Piezoelectric actuators can be used to exert the resistance force and/or to move the compensating elements.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object created by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) of a modeling material from polyaryletherketones (PAEK), polyphenylsulfides, polyamide-imide, polyethersulfon, polyetherimide, polysulfon, polyphenylsulfon, polycarbonates (PC), polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene) (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyethyleneterephtalate (PET), polystryrene (PS), acrylonitrilstyrene acrylate, polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyethylene (PE), polyoxymethylene, polyurethane (PU), copolymers of polyvinylalcohol and butenediolvinylalcohol and mixtures thereof, optionally filled with inorganic or organic fillers, wherein the object has a porosity of less than 5 vol %, as determined according to the porosity test procedure ‘Porosity test’. The objects are leak tight and show improved mechanical properties. FDM printing of PEEK generating parts having high isotropy.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling system for creating an object having a three-dimensional modeling printhead, wherein the printhead is attached to positioning means spatially moving at least one of the printhead and the object being printed relative to one another. The printhead having a tubular feed member and a nozzle arranged at one end of the tubular feed member, the nozzle having a nozzle outlet for dispensing modeling material modeling material, and a nozzle tip, for interfacing previously deposited tracks of modeling material on the object to be created. The tubular feed member having a feed channel for feeding the modeling material to the nozzle outlet. The system further having modeling material feeding means arranged at an end of the tubular feed member opposite of the nozzle, wherein the modeling material feeding means are arranged for exerting a pressure on the modeling material within the feed channel towards the nozzle.

Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.