A laser-assisted microfluidics manufacturing process has been developed for the fabrication of additively manufactured structures. Roll-to-roll manufacturing is enhanced by the use of a laser-assisted electrospray printhead positioned above the flexible substrate. The laser electrospray printhead sprays microdroplets containing nanoparticles onto the substrate to form both thin-film and structural layers. As the substrate moves, the nanoparticles are sintered using a laser beam directed by the laser electrospray printhead onto the substrate.

A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.

A method of processing by controlling one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam may include: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP and one or more confinement regions; modifying the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; confining the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam within the one or more confinement regions of the second length of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP may differ from the second RIP.

Method and plant for recovery of a processed, powdered structural material in a plant for manufacturing a three-dimensional component by selective solidification of the structural material by a beam directed onto the structural material, in which, in a construction station which includes a process chamber, the component is manufactured on a substrate plate in a construction module by layered hardening of the structural material and/or in which, in an unpacking station which includes an unpacking chamber, the component manufactured in the construction module is removed from the construction module, and the processed, non-hardened structural material is removed from the component, in which the processed structural material is collected in a collecting device by a recovery device and provided for further feeding into the process chamber for manufacturing further components, wherein the recovery device includes at least one cartridge filled with the processed structural material collected in the application device.

An AM installation utilising SLM or SLS a chamber of a housing with a protective atmosphere, a support structure in the chamber defines an upper horizontal surface on which a laser source is operable for focusing onto predetermined regions of a build area of the plane of the horizontal surface. The laser beam source is operable so areas of each of successive layers of powder material are sintered or fully molten throughout its layer thickness. A dosing device raises successive quantities of powder to the level of the upper surface to enable a re-coater to form the layers. A separable build device unit defines build chamber opening at the upper surface, and includes a lift table and an electric drive by which the lift table is stepwise vertically adjustable so a progressively built component is lowerable into the build chamber.

An additive manufacturing machine and associated method for making a part layerwise by firstly using additive manufacture to make a mold to define a space for the layer, and secondly filling the space with a paste to make a layer of the part. The machine comprises a first mold forming station with inkjet nozzles to form the mold using standard 3D printing, and a second paste dispensing station distanced from the first station, with a dispensing die slot for dispensing paste into the space to form a layer. The machine operates on multiple parts simultaneously, each being conveyed along a path through the stations.

A 3D printing system comprising, an extendable body, a material delivery system, a first wall adhesion device, and a second wall adhesion device.

A 3D printing system comprising, an extendable body, a material delivery system, a first wall adhesion device, and a second wall adhesion device.

Methods and apparatus for recoating parameter control are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a blade holder, a blade, and a control element disposed within the blade holder, the control element to move the blade between a first position and a second position, the apparatus having a first stiffness when the blade is in the first position, the apparatus having a second stiffness when the blade is in the second position, the first stiffness greater than the second stiffness.

A 3D printing cleaning module comprises an extraction gate at a lateral wall of a housing; and a platform within the housing to support a build bed including 3D printed parts and un-solidified build material. The platform is tilted or tiltable with respect to a horizontal plane towards the extraction gate to enable 3D printed parts on the platform to be removable through the extraction gate. The module comprises a cleaning engine to remove at least part of the un-solidified build material from the housing, a vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform; and a controller. The controller is to control the cleaning engine to execute a cleaning operation by removing un-solidified build material from the housing, to cause the part ejection gate to open upon completion of the cleaning operation, and to cause the vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform when the part extraction gate is in the open position.