A method for providing control data for a generative layer construction device includes accessing layer data records that have data models of buildup material layers to be selectively solidified, where a base surface region of an object cross section exists in at least one layer data record, where in at least one of p layers below the base surface region, no solidification of buildup material is specified. The method further includes changing the layer data record such that a temporal sequence for scanning the associated object cross section with energy radiation is specified such that at least one portion of the base surface region is scanned before all other parts of the object cross section; and a third step, where the changed layer data record is provided for the generation of a control data record for the device.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a shaping table, a layer forming section that forms a powder layer at the shaping table, a first head that ejects a liquid containing a binder to a shaping region from a first nozzle, a second head that ejects a liquid containing ceramic particles to a boundary region with respect to the shaping region from a second nozzle, and a control unit that controls movement of the first head and the second head with respect to the shaping table and driving of the first head and the second head by applying a voltage, wherein the control unit performs control so as to cause the first head to execute a first flushing operation and to cause the second head to execute a second flushing operation under a flushing condition different from that for the first flushing operation.

An automated system and associated method of producing manhole products includes an area closed production loop where molds are moved to discrete workstations. A standard set of tasks (e.g., mold cleaning and release agent application, reinforcement placement, pre-pouring activities and inspection, filling, curing, and product demolding) are performed at various ones of the workstations. Once one of these tasks is completed, the mold moves to the next workstation. This enables a transition from ‘cast on the floor’ method to an assembly line principle.

A mounting adapter for rotatably mounting a tool holding body having first and second surfaces on at least one spider arm of a motor driven rotatable spider assembly of a surface processing apparatus, said mounting adapter comprising: bearing means supported by said second surface; a first aperture extending centrally through said first and second surfaces; a rubber flex pad having a second aperture in vertical registry with and beneath said first aperture; means supporting said rubber flex pad along its periphery and having a third aperture in vertical registry with and beneath said second aperture; an end plug within said third aperture for closing the second aperture, said end plug supporting said flex pad from beneath said third aperture; said rotatable hub of said bearing means including attachment means in the upper portion thereof for facilitating non rotatable attachment to a mounting means adapted for attachment to said spider arm.

3D printing methods for workpiece supports, support structures, and workpieces having supports are disclosed. In an embodiment, a printing method of a workpiece support includes the following steps. (1) Configuring a first printing scheme by a printing software installed in a printing apparatus and configuring a workpiece support model according to the first printing scheme. (2) Printing a workpiece support skeleton according to the first printing scheme and the workpiece support model by the printing apparatus and obtaining the workpiece support by filling the workpiece support skeleton. Optionally, step (2) includes controlling a second nozzle to eject a ceramic wire according to the first printing scheme and the support model and controlling a first nozzle to eject a linear material according to the support model to fill the workpiece support skeleton.

Embodiments relate to the methodology of direct manufacture of a customized labial/lingual orthodontic tube by using a ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic tubes by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD tube structure model for a single labial or lingual tube structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD tube structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the tube with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.

A system for additive manufacturing comprises a dispensing head for dispensing building materials on a working surface, a hardening system for hardening the building materials, a cooling system for evacuating heat away from the building materials, and a computerized controller. A thermal sensing system is mounted above the working surface in a manner that allows relative motion between the sensing system and the working surface, and is configured to generate sensing signals responsively to thermal energy sensed thereby. The controller controls the dispensing head to dispense the building materials in layers, the sensing system to generate the sensing signals only when the sensing system is above the building materials once hardened, and the heat evacuation rate of the cooling system responsively to the sensing signals.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.

Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), the apparatus (1) comprising a process chamber (8) and a stream generating device (9) configured to generate a gaseous fluid stream at least partly streaming through the process chamber (8), the gaseous fluid stream being capable of being charged with non-consolidated particulate build material, particularly smoke or smoke residues generated during operation of the apparatus (1), while streaming through the process chamber (8), wherein the stream generating (9) device comprises at least two separate stream generating units (13, 14) each being configured to generate a respective gaseous fluid stream.

Method for operating an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein irradiation data define at least two regions (8, 9) of object data relating to a three-dimensional object (2), which regions (8, 9) are irradiated based on at least two different irradiation parameters.