The disclosure features lifting apparatuses for building cylinders in machines for producing 3D components. The apparatuses include a first bracket that receives the building cylinder, a first guide body that controls the first bracket movably and moves the building cylinder into a working plane in a process chamber, and a main drive that controls a piston that can be coupled to a substrate plate of the building cylinder with a stroke movement. At least one further guide body is associated with the first guide body, and both guide bodies are movable on at least one guide. The additional guide body has a bracket on which the main drive is provided, and the first and additional guide bodies have at least one driving apparatus to move them successively along the guide.

Examples of a gas inlet structure (1130) and a deformable structure (1120) to store build material (1126) are described. The gas inlet structure may be coupled to the deformable structure. The deformable structure may also have an outlet (1121) that is connectable to an element (1122) of an aspiration system of a three-dimensional printing system, to allow build material to be supplied from the deformable structure on application of a vacuum by the aspiration system. While the vacuum is applied to the outlet, a valve of the gas inlet structure may be selectively actuated to allow gas flow into the deformable structure.

Examples of a gas inlet structure (1130) and a deformable structure (1120) to store build material (1126) are described. The gas inlet structure may be coupled to the deformable structure. The deformable structure may also have an outlet (1121) that is connectable to an element (1122) of an aspiration system of a three-dimensional printing system, to allow build material to be supplied from the deformable structure on application of a vacuum by the aspiration system. While the vacuum is applied to the outlet, a valve of the gas inlet structure may be selectively actuated to allow gas flow into the deformable structure.

An attachment device for lifting and removing build plates and additive manufactured parts built on the build plates from an additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may fit onto a lift trolley to cooperatively engage with and lift the build plate upward off of a surface of the additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may include a support bar, two lifting arms, and a mounting bracket. The support bar may have a slider track formed therethrough, so that the lifting arms can be adjusted to correspond with a width of the build plate. The lifting arms may each having a channel formed along a length thereof and an interfacing portion slidably located within the slider track. The channels may be sized and shaped to engage with a bottom surface and/or opposing edges of the build plates. The mounting bracket may attach to a lifting device of the lift trolley.

An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.

An additive manufacturing method and machine for an object using at least one powder, capable of limiting risks of dissemination of the powder. The method including the following steps in succession: manufacture a solid block starting from the powder and a sublimatable material, load the solid block in a loading space of the machine; sublimate the material present in the solid block and recover the powder; and additive manufacturing of the object by stacking successive layers made using the powder recovered in the previous step.

An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.

An attachment device for lifting and removing build plates and additive manufactured parts built on the build plates from an additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may fit onto a lift trolley to cooperatively engage with and lift the build plate upward off of a surface of the additive manufacturing machine. The attachment device may include a support bar, two lifting arms, and a mounting bracket. The support bar may have a slider track formed therethrough, so that the lifting arms can be adjusted to correspond with a width of the build plate. The lifting arms may each having a channel formed along a length thereof and an interfacing portion slidably located within the slider track. The channels may be sized and shaped to engage with a bottom surface and/or opposing edges of the build plates. The mounting bracket may attach to a lifting device of the lift trolley.

A system includes a plurality of building trays, a printing station, a powder delivery station, a powder spreading station, a process compaction station and a stage. The printing station prints a mask pattern on each of the plurality of building trays. The powder delivery station applies a dose of powder material on each of the plurality of building trays. The powder spreading station configured to spread the dose of powder material on each of the plurality of building trays. The process compaction station compacts the powder material. The stage concurrently advances the plurality of building trays to each of the stations to concurrently build a single layer on each the plurality of building trays and repeats the advancing to build a plurality of layers on each of the plurality of building trays. A three dimensional object is formed in each of the building trays.

One aspect is an apparatus including an additively manufactured component including a surface with an end effector feature, the end effector feature co-additively manufactured with the additively manufactured component and configured to be gripped by a corresponding end effector on a robot. In an aspect, the end effector feature includes a recess in the surface. In another aspect, the recess includes an angled face. In an aspect, the recess has a teardrop shape. An aspect further includes an identification feature. In an aspect, the end effector feature includes a plurality of recesses in the surface. In another aspect, the end effector feature enables a 3-point kinematic self-aligning positive control lock.