Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) 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 (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).

A system, method and apparatus for additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes fluidizing particles with a medium to form a fluidized bed and additively manufacturing an article formed from the particles. The article has an open porous structure defining a plurality of pores and a plurality of fluid paths through the article. The method further includes flowing the particles and the medium through the fluid paths while the fluid paths are being formed. The article may be additively manufactured by selectively sintering the particles at target areas on the article which are near the surface of the fluidized bed.

Provided is a fixing member for a heat fixing apparatus which can further improve utilization efficiency of heat for heat fixing of an unfixed toner. A fixing member having an endless belt shape includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, and when a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a thickness direction is defined as nd, a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a circumferential direction is defined as td, and a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a width direction is defined as md, nd is 1.30 W/(m.Math.K) or more, and nd, td, and md satisfy a relationship as shown below nd>md>td.

Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) 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 (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).

A fixing apparatus includes an endless belt, and a pressing member including a base body and an elastic layer formed on the base body. A plurality of pore portions connected to each other are provided in the elastic layer. In a case where a binary image is generated from a three-dimensional image of the elastic layer, a threshold value X m corresponding to opening processing with which a number of pores derived from the pore portions takes a maximum value is obtained, and then pores derived from the pore portions in the elastic layer are extracted by performing opening processing with a threshold value of 2X m, an average value of angles is 120 or larger and smaller than 150.

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 fixing belt includes a base member containing a metal, a sliding layer containing a filler and formed on a base member inner side, and a separation layer formed on a base member outer side. Assume that (i) a sliding layer cross section is obtained by cutting the sliding layer along a sliding layer thickness direction and is divided into sections each having a length that is the same as a sliding layer thickness in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and (ii) a ratio of a filler area to a sliding layer area in each cross section sections is an area ratio. A period coefficient is calculated using the formula (Ave %?Min %)/Ave %, where an average of area ratios of filler areas in all the sections is Ave % and a minimum of the area ratios is Min %, and the calculated period coefficient is 0.6 or more.

A tubular body for a fixing member includes: a first layer having a thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/m.Math.K or more; and a second layer containing a resin and particles of a solid material in which heat absorption/release associated with electronic phase transition occurs.

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.