3-D printers include an intermediate transfer surface that transfers a layer of material to a platen each time the platen contacts the intermediate transfer surface to successively form a freestanding stack of layers of the material on the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the layer on the platen after a fusing station fuses the layer. A feedback loop is electrically connected to the sensor and a development station (that includes a photoreceptor, a charging station providing a static charge to the photoreceptor, a laser device exposing the photoreceptor, and a development device supplying the material to the photoreceptor). The exposure device adjusts the intensity of light exposed on the photoreceptor, based on a layer thickness measurement from the sensor through the feedback loop, to control the thickness of subsequent ones of the layers transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the freestanding stack on the platen.

3-D printers include an intermediate transfer surface that transfers a layer of material to a platen each time the platen contacts the intermediate transfer surface to successively form a freestanding stack of layers of the material on the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the layer on the platen after a fusing station fuses the layer. A feedback loop is electrically connected to the sensor and a development station (that includes a photoreceptor, a charging station providing a static charge to the photoreceptor, a laser device exposing the photoreceptor, and a development device supplying the material to the photoreceptor). The development station adjusts the transfer bias of the development device, based on a layer thickness measurement from the sensor through the feedback loop, to control the thickness of subsequent ones of the layers transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the freestanding stack on the platen.

3-D printers include a transfuse station having at least one roller on one side of an ITB supporting the ITB, and a transmission device on the same side of the ITB. A charge neutralizer is included on a second side of the intermediate transfer surface. The charge neutralizer outputs an opposite charge to neutralize existing static charge on a layer of the build material and the support material on the ITB, before the layer reaches the transfer station. Additionally, the intermediate transfer surface transfers the layer to a platen each time the platen contacts the second side of the intermediate transfer surface, at the transfer station, to successively form layers of the build material and the support material on the platen. Also, the transmission device outputs acoustic waves to cause the layer to move from the intermediate transfer surface to the platen, or to the layers on the platen.

3-D printers include a transfuse station having at least one roller on one side of the ITB supporting the ITB, and a transmission device on the same side of the ITB. A platen is included that moves relative to the ITB. The ITB electrostatically transfers a layer made up of the different color build materials and the support material to the platen each time the platen contacts the other side of the ITB at the transfuse station (the side of the ITB opposite the transfuse station roller and transmission device) using vibration and charge devices; and this successively forms multiple layers of the build materials and the support material on the platen.

An electrostatic-based layer-wise manufacturing system (e.g., 200; 200-1; 250; 282; 300) decouples a layer imaging process from a layer transfusion process. The layer imaging process is performed in a first batch process that is independent from the layer transfusion process that is performed in a second batch process.

A water dispersible sulfo-polyamide is configured as a filament for use as an extrudable support material in the additive manufacture of a part comprising a non water dispersible polymer. The water dispersible sulfo-polyamide is a reaction product of a sulfo monomer, the water dispersible sulfo-polymer being dispersible in water resulting in separation of the water dispersible polymer from the part comprising the non water dispersible polymer.

A method of forming an image on a print media including releasably securing a fabric layer to a carrier layer, the carrier layer including a first surface including a first area, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first rigidity, the fabric layer including a third surface, a fourth surface opposite the third surface and including a second area, and a second rigidity less than the first rigidity, and a first adhesive, wherein the fabric layer is secured to the carrier layer by the first adhesive bonding a first portion of the fourth surface to the first surface, applying a first liquid marking material to a first portion of the third surface of the fabric layer, and drying the first liquid marking material to the first portion of the third surface with a first dryer.

A water dispersible sulfopolymer for use as a material in the layer-wise additive manufacture of a 3D part made of a non water dispersible polymer wherein the water dispersible polymer is a reaction product of a metal sulfo monomer, the water dispersible sulfo-polymer being dispersible in water resulting in separation of the water dispersible polymer from the 3D part made of the non water dispersible polymer.

A device for producing a three-dimensional shaped object, including a substrate part having a base surface for holding the shaped object, a first reservoir for holding a flowable first material, a second reservoir for holding a flowable second material, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing material portions of the first material, a material application mechanism including an application roll and a coating mechanism for applying a second material layer of the second material, and a fixation mechanism for solidifying the material layers composed of the first material and the second material. The transfer body rotates about an axis of rotation disposed parallel to the base surface, the dispensing mechanism and the application roll r relative to the substrate part about an axis disposed normal to the base surface, the application roll is conical, and an axis of rotation of the application roll intersects the axis disposed normal to the base surface.

A method of operating a selective deposition-based additive manufacturing system capable of building a three-dimensional (3D) part includes developing a first layer using at least one electrostatographic engine, conveying the first layer from the at least one EP engine to a transfusion assembly, determining an anticipated transfusion overlay error for the first layer, determining whether the anticipated transfusion overlay error exceeds an overlay error specification, discarding the first layer after determining that the anticipated transfusion overlay error exceeds the overlay error specification, developing a successive layer using the at least one electrostatographic engine, conveying the successive layer from the at least one electrostatographic engine to the transfusion assembly, and transfusing the successive layer on a part build surface using the transfusion assembly to build the 3D part in a layer-by-layer manner on a part build platform.