To provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object in which a three-dimensional shaped object is manufactured by discharging a shaping material from a discharge unit toward a stage to stack a layer, the method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a first step of generating path data having a plurality of partial paths through which the discharge unit moves while discharging the shaping material; a second step of determining a line width of the shaping material in each of the partial paths and generating line width information for implementing the line width; a third step of generating shaping data including the path data and the line width information; and a fourth step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped object according to the shaping data. In the second step, the line width in a target path that is one of the partial paths is determined in accordance with a distance between a first wall and a second wall separated by the target path. The first wall and the second wall are side edges of the shaping material discharged in the partial path generated before the target path or a contour line of the three-dimensional shaped object.

A data generation program includes instructions of: acquiring three-dimensional data representing a three-dimensional shape of a three-dimensional product; acquiring an arrangement condition for arranging a support member to the three-dimensional product; setting an extending direction, a width direction, and a height direction of the support member; adding a cutting margin of a particular thickness to a cutting surface of the three-dimensional product at one side in the height direction; setting the support member in accordance with the arrangement condition, one end of the support member in the extending direction being connected to the cutting margin added to the three-dimensional product; setting a beam, the beam being spaced from the three-dimensional product having the cutting margin in the extending direction, the beam extending in the width direction; generating three-dimensional modeling data for modeling a modeled object by using a three-dimensional modeling apparatus; and outputting the three-dimensional modeling data.

The present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing system. In one embodiment the system makes use of a reservoir for holding a granular material feedstock. A nozzle is in communication with the reservoir for releasing the granular material feedstock in a controlled fashion from the reservoir to form at least one layer of a part. An excitation source is included for applying a signal which induces a controlled release of the granular material feedstock from the nozzle as needed, to pattern the granular material feedstock as necessary to form a layer of the part.

Various systems and methods are provided for creating a wicking structure. In one example, a method for creating a wicking structure can include creating, using a 3D printing technique, a macro wicking element including a lattice structure formed by a grid of a first material, the lattice structure including pores formed between the grid of first material. The method can also include creating, using the 3D printing technique, a first micro wicking element including powder particles distributed within the pores of the lattice structure, and creating, using the 3D printing technique, a second micro wicking element by removing at least a portion of the lattice structure.

Provided is a method for monitoring 3D printing equipped with a 3D printing slicer and a recursive loop structure. A 3D printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention sets up a slicing environment for 3D printing of a 3D model, generates a mechanical code by performing slicing according to the setup environment, monitors the status of the 3D printing according to the generated mechanical code, and, depending on the monitoring result, determines whether or not to re-perform the setup and subsequent steps. Accordingly, by semi- or fully automating the 3D printing engineering process, the time and effort for engineering performance involving human participation are reduced, and the human resource is concentrated on a more important area, such that the effects of enhancing the 3D printing output quality and assuring the quality can be expected.

The extraction of a three-dimensional (3D) object is facilitated using a printed hint, which includes an additional shape that is printed along with the 3D object in a granular-based printer bed. In example implementations, the hint is indicative of a location of the 3D object. In one example, a hint has a dimension indicative of a depth to the object in the printer bed. In another example, a position of a hint is indicative that the object is below, and a size of the hint is based on a size of the object. Some hints can also protect the object. Examples include plate and shell-shaped hints. The object is located under a plate hint or within a shell hint. Further, an appearance of the object or indications of the sturdiness of different parts of the object can be printed on the hint to facilitate a safe extraction of the object.

Techniques for providing universal interfaces between parts of a transport structure are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for joining first and second parts of a transport structure includes an additively manufactured body having first and second surfaces. The first surface may connect to a first part such as, for example, a panel. The second surface may include a fitting for mating with a complementary fitting on a second part.

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for three-dimensional printing is provided. The embodiment may include analyzing data of a user. The data is collected while the user is performing an activity. The embodiment may include deriving a user behavior model (UBM) of the user based on the analysis of the data. The embodiment may include calculating a relative comfort coefficient (RCC) of the user for the activity based on attributes of the UBM. The embodiment may include predicting adjustments to the attributes of the UBM which result in the RCC exceeding a threshold value. The predicted adjustments are derived using a convolutional neural network classifier. The embodiment may include defining one or more parameters of a tangible component of an object utilized by the user when performing the activity based on the predicted adjustments.