Orthopedic implants produced by additive manufacture, followed by refinement of exterior and interior surfaces trough mechanical erosion, chemical erosion, or a combination of mechanical and chemical erosion. Surface refinement removes debris, and also produces bone-growth enhancing micro-scale and nano-scale structures.

Processes for tailoring the macroscopic shape, metallic composition, mechanical properties, and pore structure of nanoporous metal foams prepared through combustion synthesis via direct write 3D printing of metal energetic ligand precursor inks made with water and an organic thickening agent are disclosed. Such processes enable production of never before obtainable metal structures with hierarchical porosity, tailorable from the millimeter size regime to the nanometer size regime. Structures produced by these processes have numerous applications including, but not limited to, catalysts, heat exchangers, low density structural materials, biomedical implants, hydrogen storage medium, fuel cells, and batteries.

Processes for tailoring the macroscopic shape, metallic composition, mechanical properties, and pore structure of nanoporous metal foams prepared through combustion synthesis via direct write 3D printing of metal energetic ligand precursor inks made with water and an organic thickening agent are disclosed. Such processes enable production of never before obtainable metal structures with hierarchical porosity, tailorable from the millimeter size regime to the nanometer size regime. Structures produced by these processes have numerous applications including, but not limited to, catalysts, heat exchangers, low density structural materials, biomedical implants, hydrogen storage medium, fuel cells, and batteries.

A 3D-printed reflective optic providing very high specific stiffness through the utilization of a hollow shelled design, with closed back, filled with high-stiffness internal volumetric space-filling open-cell lattice structures. Structurally-integrated sacrificial structures are included for the purposes of reduction or elimination of tooling during post-processing operations.

A 3D-printed reflective optic providing very high specific stiffness through the utilization of a hollow shelled design, with closed back, filled with high-stiffness internal volumetric space-filling open-cell lattice structures. Structurally-integrated sacrificial structures are included for the purposes of reduction or elimination of tooling during post-processing operations.

An additive manufacturing article according to the present invention is composed of an Ni-based alloy that contains Cr and Mo, while containing Ni in the largest amount in terms of the mass ratio; and an oxide film that is mainly composed of Cr is formed in a part or the entirety of the surface. This oxide film that is mainly composed of Cr has a region wherein the O content is higher in comparison to that in the inner part, and the Cr content is higher than the Ni content. It is preferable that this oxide film has a thickness of 1-20 nm from the surface; and it is also preferable that this oxide film is formed so as to be suited to a corrosive environment contact surface. In addition, this oxide film is able to be formed during additive manufacturing of the additive manufacturing article.

An additive manufacturing article according to the present invention is composed of an Ni-based alloy that contains Cr and Mo, while containing Ni in the largest amount in terms of the mass ratio; and an oxide film that is mainly composed of Cr is formed in a part or the entirety of the surface. This oxide film that is mainly composed of Cr has a region wherein the O content is higher in comparison to that in the inner part, and the Cr content is higher than the Ni content. It is preferable that this oxide film has a thickness of 1-20 nm from the surface; and it is also preferable that this oxide film is formed so as to be suited to a corrosive environment contact surface. In addition, this oxide film is able to be formed during additive manufacturing of the additive manufacturing article.

Object model data modification is described in which object model data defining a first object to be generated by a three-dimensional printer may be obtained. A determination whether the first object is an object that may be adversely affected by a post-processing apparatus during post-processing based on a geometry of the first object to be generated can be made; and if the determination is affirmative, the object model data may be modified by adding a structure to the object model data to create a modified object comprising the first object and the structure, the modified object of a different geometry to the first object so as not to be adversely affected by the post-processing apparatus during the post-processing.

A dip-coat binder solution comprises a metal dip-coat powder and a dip-coat binder. The dip-coat binder solution has a viscosity greater than or equal to 1 cP and less than or equal to 40 cP. The metal dip-coat powder may comprise a stainless steel alloy, a nickel alloy, a copper alloy, a copper-nickel alloy, a cobalt-chrome alloy, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a tungsten alloy, or a combination thereof. A method of forming a part includes providing a green body part comprising a plurality of layers of print powder, dipping the green body part in a dip-coat binder solution to form a dip-coated green body part, and heating the dip-coated green body part. After dipping, the dip-coated green body part has a surface roughness Ra less than or equal to 10 μm.

A dip-coat binder solution comprises a metal dip-coat powder and a dip-coat binder. The dip-coat binder solution has a viscosity greater than or equal to 1 cP and less than or equal to 40 cP. The metal dip-coat powder may comprise a stainless steel alloy, a nickel alloy, a copper alloy, a copper-nickel alloy, a cobalt-chrome alloy, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a tungsten alloy, or a combination thereof. A method of forming a part includes providing a green body part comprising a plurality of layers of print powder, dipping the green body part in a dip-coat binder solution to form a dip-coated green body part, and heating the dip-coated green body part. After dipping, the dip-coated green body part has a surface roughness Ra less than or equal to 10 μm.