Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method of additively manufacturing a part including depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface, depositing a binder solution on the layer of the powder at first locations, and depositing a sintering aid solution on the layer of the powder at second locations. The sintering aid solution comprises a sintering aid in a solvent. In various embodiments, the sintering aid enables an increased brown strength as compared to parts containing unbound powder. The method enables binders that provide high green strength to be used at the edges of the part, while also balancing a shortened debind time with an increased brown strength. Embodiments in which binder solution is deposited according to a predetermined pattern at second locations are also described.

Abstract: A green body part comprises a first green portion, a second green portion, an interfacial joint between the first green portion and the second green portion, and a joint material disposed within the interfacial joint. The joint material comprises a powder having a particle size distribution than or equal to 1 ?m and less than or equal to 50 ?m. A method of manufacturing a joined part includes applying a joint material on a face of the first green portion and contacting the second green portion to the joint material on the face of the first green portion to form a joined green body part.

Abstract: A water-based binder solution comprises a thermoplastic binder, greater than or equal to 4 wt % to less than or equal to 20 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point greater than or equal to 100° C. and less than or equal to 175° C., and water. The thermoplastic binder comprises a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 5,000 g/mol to 15,000 g/mol; and at least one of a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 10,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 1,000 g/mol to 5,000 g/mol. A method of monitoring a print head of an additive manufacture process comprises depositing a water-based binder solution on the thermal paper.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a water-based binder solution for use in additive manufacturing, includes a thermoplastic binder. The thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 15,000 g/mol, a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 50,000 g/mol, and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 5,000 g/mol. The binder solution further comprises from greater than or equal to 0.1 wt% to less than or equal to 5 wt% of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a green body part comprises depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface; and selectively depositing a binder solution comprising a thermoplastic binder, a fluorescent material, and a binder medium into the layer of powder in a pattern representative of a structure of a layer of the green body part. The thermoplastic binder comprises one or more polymer strands dissolved in a solvent medium having an average molecular weight from greater than or equal to 7,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 100,000 g/mol. Binder solutions comprising fluorescent material and green body parts adhered together using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing comprises depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface and selectively depositing a water-based binder solution comprising from 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C. and less than or equal to 175° C. at 1 atm and a thermoplastic binder comprises a first polymer strand including a first functional group and a second polymer strand including a second functional group into the layer of powder in a pattern representative of a structure of a part. The method further comprises non-covalently coupling the first and second polymer strands together via interaction between the first and second functional groups to form a green body part.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a water-based binder solution for use in additive manufacturing, includes a thermoplastic binder. The thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 15,000 g/mol, a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 50,000 g/mol, and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 5,000 g/mol. The binder solution further comprises from greater than or equal to 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C.

Abstract: A binder comprises a monomer and an initiator. The monomer comprises at least one of a difunctional monomer and a monofunctional monomer. A method of manufacturing a part includes depositing a layer of particulate material on a working surface; selectively applying a binder in at least one of an edge of the layer of particulate material and an infill pattern representative of a stress of the object; repeating the steps of depositing and selectively applying to form a plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder; and exposing the plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder to an excitation source to decompose the initiator and initiate polymerization of the monomer to thereby form the green body part.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method of additively manufacturing a part including depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface, depositing a binder solution on the layer of the powder at first locations, and depositing a sintering aid solution on the layer of the powder at second locations. The sintering aid solution comprises a sintering aid in a solvent. In various embodiments, the sintering aid enables an increased brown strength as compared to parts containing unbound powder. The method enables binders that provide high green strength to be used at the edges of the part, while also balancing a shortened debind time with an increased brown strength. Embodiments in which binder solution is deposited according to a predetermined pattern at second locations are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to additive manufacturing apparatuses, cleaning stations incorporated therein, and methods of cleaning using the cleaning stations.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing comprises depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface and selectively depositing a water-based binder solution comprising from 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C. and less than or equal to 175° C. at 1 atm and a thermoplastic binder comprises a first polymer strand including a first functional group and a second polymer strand including a second functional group into the layer of powder in a pattern representative of a structure of a part. The method further comprises non-covalently coupling the first and second polymer strands together via interaction between the first and second functional groups to form a green body part.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a water-based binder solution for use in additive manufacturing, includes a thermoplastic binder. The thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 15,000 g/mol, a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 50,000 g/mol, and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 5,000 g/mol. The binder solution further comprises from greater than or equal to 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a green body part comprises depositing a layer of a powder on a working surface; and selectively depositing a binder solution comprising a thermoplastic binder, a fluorescent material, and a binder medium into the layer of powder in a pattern representative of a structure of a layer of the green body part. The thermoplastic binder comprises one or more polymer strands dissolved in a solvent medium having an average molecular weight from greater than or equal to 7,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 100,000 g/mol. Binder solutions comprising fluorescent material and green body parts adhered together using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A binder solution comprises greater than or equal to 0.5 wt % and less than or equal to 20 wt % of nanoparticles, a thermoplastic binder, and a solvent. The nanoparticles may comprise metallic nanoparticles comprising nickel, silver, chromium, aluminum, cobalt, iron, or combinations thereof. The nanoparticles may comprise ceramic nanoparticles, the comprising alumina, aluminum nitride, zirconia, titania, silica, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, boron nitride, or combinations thereof. A method of manufacturing a part includes depositing a layer of particulate material on a working surface, applying a binder solution into the layer of particulate material in a pattern, repeating the steps of depositing and selectively applying to form a plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder solution, and curing the applied binder solution in the plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder solution to evaporate the solvent and thereby form a green body part.

Abstract: A binder solution comprises a fugitive metal precursor, a thermoplastic binder, and a solvent. The fugitive metal precursor may comprise an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a post-transition metal, a metalloid, a rare earth metal, or combinations thereof. The fugitive metal precursor may comprise a salt such as carboxylate, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate, formate, chloride, halide, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. A method of manufacturing a part includes depositing a layer of particulate material on a working surface, selectively applying a binder solution into the layer of particulate material in a pattern representative of a layer of the part, repeating the steps of depositing and selectively applying to form a plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder solution, and curing the applied binder solution in the plurality of layers of particulate material with the applied binder solution to evaporate the solvent and form a green body part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.