Abstract: A printing system to hold printing material comprises a sealing interface to seal a container with respect to a printing chamber volume of the printing system, the container to hold the printing material. The printing system comprises a lifting system to move the container between a first position in which the container is to be lifted and a second position at which the container is lifted and contacts the seal so as to seal the container. The lifting system is to non-hyperstatically constrain the container.

Abstract: It is disclosed a printing system comprising: a print unit and an inertization unit; wherein the print unit is associated to a print chamber being the print chamber to receive print material from a source and the print unit to print the print material within the print chamber and wherein the inertization unit comprises a fuel-cell coupled to a fuel storage and an oxidant fluid input being the oxidant fluid input fluidly connected to the print chamber.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided an apparatus to process volume of particulate build material. The apparatus comprises a sealable chamber to house a volume of particulate build material, a gas supply to supply the chamber with a predetermined gas, a gas circulator to circulate the gas within the volume of build material, a temperature controller to heat the circulated gas to a predetermined heating temperature to heat the volume of build material to the heating temperature and then to cool the circulated gas to a predetermined cooling temperature to cool the volume of build material to the cooling temperature.

Abstract: A 3D printer is disclosed herein. The 3D printer comprises a build material distributor, an agent delivery device and a controller. The controller obtains slice image data of a sliced virtual build volume including a 3D object to be generated, where the slice image data is indicative, for each slice, of the portions of corresponding build material layers to be solidified. The controller is to determine print data corresponding to each slice, the print data defining a density of printing agent to be applied to regions of each layer based on the slice image data; and to obtain additional data relating to a portion of a slice that corresponds to a sloped portion of the 3D object. The controller is further to modify the determined print data to modify the density of printing agent to be printed at a portion of a given build material layer based on the additional data.

Abstract: A 3D printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a container, a build material extraction module, an energy source and a controller. The container is to receive a build volume comprising portions in which an un-cured thermally curable binder has been applied to define a 3D object to be generated and portions on which no binder has been applied. The build material extraction module is to remove part of the build material on which no binder has been applied. The energy source to heat the contents of the container. And the controller is to control the build material extraction module to remove part of the build material on which no binder has been applied; and control the energy source to heat the build material to thermally cure any binder in the container.

Abstract: In one example, a system for loading a build material powder supply receptacle for a 3D printer includes a reconditioner having a container and a heater to burn unwanted residue from used build material powder in the container, to form reconditioned build material powder, a conveyor operatively connected to the reconditioner to convey used build material powder to the container, and a dispenser operatively connected to the reconditioner to dispense reconditioned build material powder from the container into the supply receptacle.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a 3D printing build unit comprising a build chamber, a build platform, and a heating element controllable to heat a portion of the contents of the build chamber to a temperature at or above a curing temperature whilst maintaining upper layers of the build chamber at or below a printing temperature.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus includes a carriage to carry a payload through a manufacturing space at the urging of control elements in a control space and a belt movable with the carriage to block contaminants in the manufacturing space from passing to the control space along a carriage travel path.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine (34) comprising a build material spreading system (2). The spreading system (2) has a moveable spreader (4) with an exterior surface (8) to spread build material. The spreading system (2) also has a heater (10) located separate from the spreader (4). The heater (10) has a heat dissipater (20) extending around the spreader (4) to retain, between the dissipater (20) and the spreader (4), air (36) heated by the dissipater (20).

Abstract: In an example, an air filtration apparatus includes a cyclonic particle separation chamber having a first inlet to draw air from a first region, second inlet to draw air from a second region, and an exhaust port. The air filtration apparatus may further include a pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the first region, and a cyclonic air flow controller. The cyclonic air flow controller may control an air inflow received via the second inlet in response to an output from the pressure sensor to maintain a total air flow rate via the exhaust port.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of removing liquid from a build chamber containing build material and liquid. The method comprises starting a liquid extraction process to extract liquid from the build chamber, and determining when a predetermined threshold of liquid has been removed from the build chamber, and thereby stopping the liquid extraction process.

Abstract: A printing system to hold printing material comprises a sealing interface to seal a container with respect to a printing chamber volume of the printing system, the container to hold the printing material. The printing system comprises a lifting system to move the container between a first position in which the container is to be lifted and a second position at which the container is lifted and contacts the seal so as to seal the container. The lifting system is to non-hyperstatically constrain the container.

Abstract: Printing stations to receive build units are disclosed. The printing stations may comprise a first wall comprising two fixed receiving ports to engage with two fixed mounting elements of the build units, respectively, and a second wall comprising a third fixed receiving port to engage with a third fixed mounting element of the build units, and a calibration receiving port to be coupled to a fourth fixed mounting element when the build unit is inserted into the printing station.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus includes a carriage to carry a payload through a manufacturing space at the urging of control elements in a control space and a belt movable with the carriage to block contaminants in the manufacturing space from passing to the control space along a carriage travel path.

Abstract: A belt tensioning system is described, which comprises: a housing pivotable about a pivot point; a pulley supported by said housing, said pulley to rotate a belt and said pulley rotatable about an axis of rotation; a motor to drive the pulley; and a biasing element coupled to said housing and to apply a tension to said belt via said housing and said pulley; wherein operation of said motor to effect rotation of said pulley about said axis of rotation: in a first direction effects pivoting of said housing in a direction about said pivot point, which pivoting movement, in combination with said biasing element, effects translational movement of said axis of rotation of said pulley in a first translational direction to a first axis position to alter said tension in said belt; and in a second direction effects pivoting of said housing in an opposite direction about said pivot point, which pivoting movement, in combination with said biasing element, effects translational movement of said axis of rotation of said pul

Abstract: In an example, a method includes forming a layer of build material and selectively applying fusing agent on to the layer based on a predetermined pattern. Energy may be applied to the layer of build material, and at least one temperature of the layer may be measured. A temperature distribution over the layer of build material may be determined, the temperature distribution indicating, for each of a plurality of locations on the layer of build material, whether fusing agent is present at that location. At least one characteristic derived from the temperature distribution may be compared to a predetermined characteristic. When the compared characteristics differ, an operational characteristic of an additive manufacturing apparatus may be adjusted.

Abstract: In one example, an elevator for a roll of print media includes rotatable shafts oriented parallel to one another and translatable supports to support a roll of print media. Each support is operatively connected to the shafts such that rotating the shafts in a first direction raises the supports and rotating the shafts in a second direction opposite the first direction lowers the supports.

Abstract: In an example, an air filtration apparatus includes a cyclonic particle separation chamber having a first inlet to draw air from a first region, second inlet to draw air from a second region, and an exhaust port. The air filtration apparatus may further include a pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the first region, and a cyclonic air flow controller. The cyclonic air flow controller may control an air inflow received via the second inlet in response to an output from the pressure sensor to maintain a total air flow rate via the exhaust port.

Abstract: In an example, a filtration apparatus includes a cyclonic particle separation chamber having an inner surface and a liquid source. The liquid source may be to supply liquid to provide a flow of liquid on the inner surface.

Abstract: Linear guides for shafts are disclosed The linear guides comprise housings having a main opening to receive the shaft and multiple contact guiding elements, such m bearings or sliders, arranged on the housing and around the opening, each contact guiding element to contact the shaft at a different point The linear guides further comprise thermal compensation blocks affixed to the housing and in contact with a portion of a contact guiding element of the multiple contact guiding elements.