The disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a metallic component, and corresponding methods. The apparatus may include a build plate with a build surface and an aperture. The apparatus may also include an actuator operable to translate a metallic component such that an end portion of the metallic component is positioned within the aperture of the build plate and below the build surface. The apparatus may further include a seal coupled within the aperture of the build plate and configured to engage the end portion of the metallic component. The aperture of the build plate, the seal, and the end portion of the metallic component may cooperate to form a powder bed to hold metallic powder therein. The apparatus may also include an external heat control mechanism operable to form a predetermined temperature profile of the end portion of the component to prevent cracking of the component.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, which is a method of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object using a cutting tool configured to cut a first length in a cutting direction, includes: a first portion shaping step of stacking a shaping material to shape a first portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than the first length; a first portion cutting step of cutting the first portion in the cutting direction by the cutting tool; and a second portion shaping step of stacking the shaping material to couple to a first end surface of the first portion in a direction opposite to the cutting direction, and to shape a second portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than that of the first portion.

A three-dimensional molding device includes a discharge unit that discharges a molding material towards a stage, a heating unit that heats the discharge unit, a temperature acquisition unit that acquires a temperature of the molding material placed on the stage, and a control unit. The control unit controls the heating unit such that a relationship of a temperature Tb of an existing layer, a path cross-sectional area Sb of the existing layer, a specific gravity ρb of a first thermoplastic resin contained in the existing layer, a specific heat Cb of the first thermoplastic resin, a temperature Tu of the heating unit, a path cross-sectional area Su of a subsequent layer, a specific gravity ρu of a second thermoplastic resin contained in the subsequent layer, a specific heat Cu of the second thermoplastic resin, a thermal decomposition temperature Td that is a lower temperature between a thermal decomposition temperature of the first thermoplastic resin and a thermal decomposition temperature of the second thermoplastic resin, and a glass transition point Tg that is a higher glass transition point between a glass transition point of the first thermoplastic resin and a glass transition point of the second thermoplastic resin satisfies the following expression (1).
Td>(Tu×Su×ρu×Cu+Tb×Sb×ρb×Cb)/(Su×ρu×Cu+Sb×ρb×Cb)>Tg  (1)

A method for determining a temperature of an object includes contacting the object with a first electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object and the first electrical conductor is greater than a predetermined value. The method also includes contacting the object or a substrate on which the object is positioned with a second electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object or the substrate and the second electrical conductor is less than the predetermined value. The method also includes connecting the first and second electrical conductors together. The method also includes measuring the temperature of the object using the first and second electrical conductors. The first and second electrical conductors form at least a portion of a thermocouple.

A method for determining a temperature of an object includes contacting the object with a first electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object and the first electrical conductor is greater than a predetermined value. The method also includes contacting the object or a substrate on which the object is positioned with a second electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object or the substrate and the second electrical conductor is less than the predetermined value. The method also includes connecting the first and second electrical conductors together. The method also includes measuring the temperature of the object using the first and second electrical conductors. The first and second electrical conductors form at least a portion of a thermocouple.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of vapor phase change in binder jetting processes for forming three-dimensional objects. In general, a vapor of a first fluid may be directed to a layer of a powder spread across a build volume. The vapor may condense to reduce mobility of the particles of the powder of the layer. For example, the condensing vapor may reduce the likelihood of particle ejection from the layer and, thus, may reduce the likelihood of clogging or otherwise degrading a printhead used to jet a second fluid (e.g., a binder) to the layer. Further, or instead, the condensing vapor may increase the density of the powder in the layer which, when repeated over a plurality of layers forming a three-dimensional object, may reduce the likelihood of slumping of the part during sintering.

A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer includes: a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the passageway and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the passageway; a current pulse generating system in electrical contact with the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits; a magnetic field source sufficiently proximate the second end of the ejector conduit so as to generate a flux region disposed within the ejector nozzle during operation of the 3D printer; and a positioning system for controlling the relative position of the array with respect to a print substrate in a manner that would allow the print substrate to receive print material jettable from the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer.

A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer includes: a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the passageway and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the passageway; a current pulse generating system in electrical contact with the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits; a magnetic field source sufficiently proximate the second end of the ejector conduit so as to generate a flux region disposed within the ejector nozzle during operation of the 3D printer; and a positioning system for controlling the relative position of the array with respect to a print substrate in a manner that would allow the print substrate to receive print material jettable from the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer.

An ejector for a printing system is disclosed. The ejector body may include an internal cavity, a nozzle in communication with the internal cavity, one or more segmented solenoid coils wrapped at least partially around the ejector body, and a piston disposed within the internal cavity of the ejector body. A method of ejecting liquid from an ejector is also disclosed, including introducing a material for ejection into an ejector cavity. The method of ejecting liquid from an ejector may include advancing a piston configured for translational motion within an ejector towards an ejector nozzle which may further include de-energizing a first segment of a segmented solenoid wrapped partially around the ejector, energizing a second solenoid segment of a segmented solenoid wrapped partially around the ejector. The method of ejecting liquid from an ejector may also include ejecting a drop of the material for ejection from the ejector nozzle.

An ejector for a printing system is disclosed. The ejector body may include an internal cavity, a nozzle in communication with the internal cavity, one or more segmented solenoid coils wrapped at least partially around the ejector body, and a piston disposed within the internal cavity of the ejector body. A method of ejecting liquid from an ejector is also disclosed, including introducing a material for ejection into an ejector cavity. The method of ejecting liquid from an ejector may include advancing a piston configured for translational motion within an ejector towards an ejector nozzle which may further include de-energizing a first segment of a segmented solenoid wrapped partially around the ejector, energizing a second solenoid segment of a segmented solenoid wrapped partially around the ejector. The method of ejecting liquid from an ejector may also include ejecting a drop of the material for ejection from the ejector nozzle.