Patent classifications
G03G15/225
LASER PRINTING SYSTEM
The invention describes a laser printing system (100) for illuminating an object moving relative to a laser module of the laser printing system (100) in a working plane (180), the laser module comprising at least two laser arrays of semiconductor lasers and at least one optical element, wherein the optical element is adapted to image laser light emitted by the laser arrays, such that laser light of semiconductor lasers of one laser array is imaged to one pixel in the working plane of the laser printing system, and wherein the laser printing system is a 3D printing system for additive manufacturing and wherein two, three, four or a multitude of laser modules (201, 202) are provided, which are arranged in columns (c1, c2) perpendicular to a direction of movement (250) of the object in the working plane (180), and wherein the columns are staggered with respect to each other such that a first laser module (201) of a first column of laser modules (c1) is adapted to illuminate a first area (y1) of the object and a second laser module (202) of a second column (c2) of laser modules is adapted to illuminate a second area (y2) of the object, wherein the first area (y1) is adjacent to the second area (y2) such that continuous illumination of the object is enabled.
Method for Fabricating Three-Dimensional Printed Composites
A 3D object according to the invention comprises substrate layers infiltrated by hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Stack the substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is carbon fiber and excess substrate is removed by abrasion.
Shaping apparatus and shaping method
A shaping apparatus that fabricates a three-dimensional object by stacking a material layer formed of a shaping material, comprising: a conveyance belt that supports and conveys the material layer; a heating roller that is one of rollers supporting the conveyance belt and heats the material layer supported by the conveyance belt via the conveyance belt; and a shaping section that stacks the material layer on a downstream side of the heating roller in a conveyance direction, wherein a size of a contact area as an area in which the heating roller and the conveyance belt are in contact with each other in the conveyance direction is larger than a maximum possible size of the material layer in the conveyance direction.
Materials containing fluoropolymers for additive manufacturing applications
Part materials for additive manufacturing applications include materials with a fluoropolymer processing aid (material-FP). These materials include one or more thermoplastic polymers and one or more fluoropolymers as a processing aid. The material-FP is used to build parts with additive manufacturing systems. Parts built using material-FP have improved physical properties including improved strength in the z-direction of the parts. Composite systems such as reinforced filaments with the material-FP also have a higher density.
Compact hybrid digital-analogue developing machine
Compact hybrid developing machine that exposes a photosensitive substrate (1) using an LED or LCD display (2,3) wherein the substrate (1) is placed in direct contact with the image generating layer (colour generating layer+channelling layer) of the display (2,3). When the display is of LCD technology, the filters (21) of the colour generating layer are placed closer to the substrate (1) than the liquid crystal layer (22). In both types of display (2,3), a channelling layer is installed within the image generating layer, for example, a black matrix (4) of opaque elements. When using an LCD display (2), this may have a unifying filter (24) or a black translucent filter (25) before the light diffusing layer.
TRANSFER BELT PLATENS
A system and method for printing includes a transfer belt configured to transfer toner from a photoconductive drum of a toner-based printer to a paper. A transfer platen positions at least a portion of the transfer belt to be in proximity to a photoconductive drum. For color printing, a transfer platen is associated with a corresponding photoconductive drum for each distinct color of toner. The transfer platen is shaped to improve the transfer of toner from the photoconductive drum to the transfer belt. The transfer platen is substantially fixed in a non-rotatable position. The transfer platen includes electrically conductive foam. The transfer platen includes a low friction conductive top layer over the electrically conductive foam.
Methods and apparatus for three-dimensional printed composites based on flattened substrate sheets
A 3D object according to the invention involves substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object may be fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Flatten a substrate layer. Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Stack the substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is carbon fiber and excess substrate is removed by abrasion. Flattening a substrate layer involves reducing planar inconsistencies or imperfections, and comprises applying heat to each substrate layer, cooling the substrate layers, and optionally applying tension and/or pressure to the heated and cooled substrate layers.
Method for fabricating three-dimensional printed composites
A 3D object according to the invention comprises substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Stack the substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is carbon fiber and excess substrate is removed by abrasion.
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING AN OBJECT
An apparatus for forming a part, comprising a substrate for holding the part during forming; a transport web; a web delivery system; a powder generation system configured to deposit a portion of powder on a portion of the web delivered by the delivery system; a sintering station configured to sinter the portion of powder on the delivered portion of the transport web; and a transfer station configured to transfer the sintered portion of the powder from the transport web to a partially formed portion of the part and join the sintered portion of the powder to the partially formed part. Additionally, a method for making a part comprising depositing a first portion of a powder on a transport web substrate; sintering the first portion of powder on the web substrate; and joining the sintered portion of the powder to the support substrate to form a first layer of the part.
3-D printing using intermediate transfer belt and curable polymers
3-D printing transfers build material and support from an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to a platen. The build material is the same as the support material, except that the build material includes a photoinitiator and the support material does not. The platen moves to make contact with the ITB, and the ITB transfers successive layers of build material and support material each time the platen contacts the ITB. The platen and a portion of the ITB that is adjacent the platen are heated prior to the platen contacting the ITB, and the same is exposed so as to crosslink polymers of build material, without crosslinking polymers of support material. The polymers of build material being crosslinked and the polymers of support material not being crosslinked makes the support material selectively soluble in a solvent.