A transfer-type ink jet recording apparatus including an intermediate image forming unit for applying an ink containing a resin to an intermediate transfer member to form an intermediate image and a transfer unit for transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium. The apparatus further includes a heating unit for heating the intermediate image to a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum film forming temperature of the resin and a cooling unit for cooling the intermediate image heated by the heating unit to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the resin to supply the image to the transfer unit.

A method of printing a part in an electrophotographic additive manufacturing system includes printing a part and associated support structure in a layer by layer manner, and providing a chamber in which printing is performed. The chamber is supported by a movable platform and the chamber is positioned about a movable platen. The movable platen is supported by the movable build platform. The movable platen is movable within the chamber on the movable build platform. An electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a three-dimensional part, and a support from one or more imaging engines. The system includes a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature, and a layer transfusion assembly configured to transfuse the imaged layers to the build platen or a previously printed layer.

In a method of producing a 3D part using an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, a plurality of layers of a powder-based material are developed using at least one electrophotography (EP) engine. The developed layers are transferred to a transfer medium. The layers on the transfer medium are dried by heating the layers without fully fusing the powder-based material to itself using a dryer. This reduces a water content of the layers. The dried layers are heated on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature, at which the power-based material fuses together, using a pre-transfusion heater. The dried layers are then transfused together on a build platform using a transfusion assembly to build the part in a layer-by-layer manner.

A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having a grafted copolymer (including acrylonitrile units, butadiene units, aromatic units modified withpolycarbonate and poly(styrene-co-maleimide)), a charge control agent, and a heat absorber. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

A method and system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes rotating a transfer belt with a developed layer, scanning the developed layer on the rotating transfer belt, pressing the developed layer into contact with an intermediate build surface of the three-dimensional part retained on a moveable build platform, scanning the pressed layer on the three-dimensional part, comparing the scanned layers to detect an overlay error, and adjusting a position of the moveable build platform relative to the transfer belt to reduce the overlay error for a subsequent developed layer.

A method of printing a part in an additive manufacturing system includes printing a support structure for the part, printing a boundary surrounding the support structure, and printing the part on the support structure. An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a thermoplastic-based powder for a boundary, a thermoplastic-based powder for a support, and a thermoplastic-based powder for the part from at least two imaging engines, a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature of the thermoplastic-based powder, and a layer transfusion assembly including a build platform, the layer transfusion assembly being configured to transfuse the heated layers in a layer-by-layer manner onto the build platform to print the three-dimensional part.

An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part, which includes one or more electrophotography engines configured to develop layers of the three-dimensional part, a rotatable transfer belt configured to receive the developed layers from the electrophotography engine(s), a detector configured to measure powder densities of the developed layers on the rotatable transfer belt, and to transmit signals relating to the measured powder densities to a controller assembly, and a printing assembly configured to receive the developed layer from the rotatable transfer belt and to print the three-dimensional part from the developed layers.

A support material for printing a support structure with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the support material including a composition having a charge control agent and a thermoplastic copolymer having aromatic groups, (meth)acrylate-based ester groups, carboxylic acid groups, and anhydride groups, with a high anhydride conversion. The composition is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and the support material is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the support structure in a layer-by-layer manner, and is at least partially soluble in an aqueous solution.

A cast device useable with an image forming apparatus is provided. The cast device includes at least one tube and a cast body. The cast body includes the at least one tube implanted into the cast body using a combined casting process.

A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having an engineering-grade thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.