A powder-based additive manufacturing installation (10) comprises a powder layering device (14) that can be displaced along a path linking a start zone (A) and an end zone (B). The layering device (14) comprises powder smoothing means (35) for depositing powder in a powder deposition zone (P) situated between the start zone (A) and the end zone (B). The installation furthermore comprises a cleaning device (60) situated on the path of the layering device (14), the cleaning device (60) comprising a brushing device (62) for brushing at least one surface of the powder smoothing means (35).

A coated powder for use in additive manufacturing includes a base polymer layer formed of a base polymer material and a coating polymer layer formed of a coating polymer material. At least the coating polymer material is susceptible to dielectric heating in response to electromagnetic radiation, thereby promoting fusion between adjacent particles of coated powder that are deposited during the additive manufacturing process. Specifically, when electromagnetic radiation is applied to at least an interface area between adjacent particles of coated powder, the polymer coating layer melts to diffuse across the interface area, thereby preventing formation of voids. The base polymer material and the coating polymer material also may have similar melting points and compatible solubility parameters to further promote fusion between particles.

A method for creating metadevices includes receiving, at a computing device, one or more boundary conditions for a metadevice. The method also includes processing, with an inverse-design algorithm stored in a memory of the computing device, the one or more boundary conditions to generate a metadevice structure design that satisfies the one or more boundary conditions. The method also includes converting, by a processor of the computing device, the metadevice structure design into a file that is compatible with an additive manufacturing device. The method further includes providing the file of the metadevice structure design to the additive manufacturing device.

The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object with an additive manufacturing system, such as an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, a selective laser sintering system, and/or an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, comprising providing a support material comprising more than 50% wt. of a semi-crystalline polyamide [polyamide (A)] having a melting point, as determined according to ASTM D3418, of at least 250 C. and possessing a water absorption at saturation, by immersion in water at 23 C., of at least 2% wt.

A coated powder for use in additive manufacturing includes a base polymer layer formed of a base polymer material and a coating polymer layer formed of a coating polymer material. At least the coating polymer material is susceptible to dielectric heating in response to electromagnetic radiation, thereby promoting fusion between adjacent particles of coated powder that are deposited during the additive manufacturing process. Specifically, when electromagnetic radiation is applied to at least an interface area between adjacent particles of coated powder, the polymer coating layer melts to diffuse across the interface area, thereby preventing formation of voids. The base polymer material and the coating polymer material also may have similar melting points and compatible solubility parameters to further promote fusion between particles.

An example system includes an object and a support frame supporting the object. The support frame constrains movement of the object relative to the support frame, and the support frame includes at least one of a cage or a shackle to non-rigidly constrain movement of at least a part of the object.

Build material handling unit for a powder module for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module, wherein the build material handling unit is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material arranged inside a powder chamber of the powder module by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber.

A process for producing an article by three-dimensional printing includes applying a 1,1-di-activated vinyl compound-containing liquid binder over a predetermined area of a layer of solid particles. The liquid binder infiltrates gaps between the solid particles to form a first cross-sectional layer of an article, and the 1,1-di-activated vinyl compound reacts to solidify the liquid binder and bind the solid particles in the first cross-sectional layer of the article. Also provided is an article produced by the three-dimensional printing process, set forth herein.

In an example of a method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics, a build material is applied. A fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the build material. The build material is exposed to radiation and the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent fuses to form a layer. An electronic agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the layer, which imparts an electronic property to the at least the portion of the layer.

A method for operating a three dimensional (3D) printer to limit unauthorized copying and provide authentication of 3D objects printed from authorized models fabricated on 3D printers. The method includes providing a digital file defining a 3D model of an object to the 3D printer. The 3D model includes a model of an identification (ID) element. The method includes processing the digital file to define print layers of the 3D model, and a number of the print layers include layers of the model of the ID element. The method involves operating the 3D printer to print the layers to form a 3D object with an integrally formed ID element. The ID element is embedded within object elements of the 3D object. The integrally formed ID element may be a radio frequency ID (RFID) tag providing identification data when read by an RFID reader scanning the 3D object.