Methods and apparatus relating to substructures for 3D objects are described. In an example, a method for providing a three-dimensional halftone threshold matrix is described. The method may comprise receiving a substructure model representing a three-dimensional material structure and populating each location in the substructure model at which the structure exists with a halftone threshold value.

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing an individualized immobilization element for the non-invasive immobilization and/or mobilization of at least a segment of a body part of a patient in a predetermined position relative to a reference and/or in a pre-certain configuration. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a data set that comprises a three-dimensional image of an outer contour of at least a part of the segment of the body part to be immobilized and/or mobilized and (ii) the manufacture of at least a part of the immobilization element by rapid manufacturing of a shape on the basis of said data set using a polymeric material containing a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point less than or equal to 100° C., wherein the polymer material contains a nucleating agent for enhancing the of the crystallization of the thermoplastic polymer.

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing an individualized immobilization element for the non-invasive immobilization and/or mobilization of at least a segment of a body part of a patient in a predetermined position relative to a reference and/or in a pre-certain configuration. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a data set that comprises a three-dimensional image of an outer contour of at least a part of the segment of the body part to be immobilized and/or mobilized and (ii) the manufacture of at least a part of the immobilization element by rapid manufacturing of a shape on the basis of said data set using a polymeric material containing a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point less than or equal to 100° C., wherein the polymer material contains a nucleating agent for enhancing the of the crystallization of the thermoplastic polymer.

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction. At least one of the recoating rollers (41, 42), preferably both of the recoating rollers (41, 42) are formed adjustable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction in the recoating unit (40).

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction. At least one of the recoating rollers (41, 42), preferably both of the recoating rollers (41, 42) are formed adjustable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction in the recoating unit (40).

Certain examples described herein relate to structure forming for the production of a three-dimensional object. In these examples, different structure forming components or functions are applied to volumes of a three-dimensional object. These structure forming components or functions are arranged to differentially generate a halftone output. The halftone output is generated by processing a material volume coverage representation for the three-dimensional object. The halftone output is used to provide control data for instructing production of a three-dimensional object.

Certain examples described herein relate to structure forming for the production of a three-dimensional object. In these examples, different structure forming components or functions are applied to volumes of a three-dimensional object. These structure forming components or functions are arranged to differentially generate a halftone output. The halftone output is generated by processing a material volume coverage representation for the three-dimensional object. The halftone output is used to provide control data for instructing production of a three-dimensional object.

Methods and apparatus relating to substructures for three-dimensional objects are described. In an example, a method comprises receiving a lattice model having a consistent dimensionality and determining a substructure model representing a three-dimensional material structure, the substructure model being based on the lattice model and specifying a variable material distribution. The substructure model may be populated with halftone threshold data to provide a three-dimensional halftone threshold matrix

Methods and apparatus relating to substructures for three-dimensional objects are described. In an example, a method comprises receiving a lattice model having a consistent dimensionality and determining a substructure model representing a three-dimensional material structure, the substructure model being based on the lattice model and specifying a variable material distribution. The substructure model may be populated with halftone threshold data to provide a three-dimensional halftone threshold matrix

Adjustment of a halftoning threshold can, in an example implementation, include assigning a relative energy value, relative to a reference energy value, to a location of a build area and adjusting a halftoning threshold based on the relative energy value.