The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

The present invention relates to a coupling system for an additive manufacturing process, comprising: a conduit for the transfer of material between a container and a further component of the additive manufacturing process; and one or more actuators for controlling operation of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises first and second portions connected via an extendable intermediate portion; and wherein the one or more actuators are operable to act on at least a portion of the conduit to extend or retract the intermediate portion to control the length of the conduit.

A connecting device for receiving a cartridge container and for positioning at a connection point in an installation for producing three-dimensional components by successively solidifying layers of a powdered building material, having a housing, having a cartridge receiver which is provided at the housing and to which the cartridge container can be fastened, having a connection side on the housing opposite the cartridge receiver, which connection side has a passage for delivering powdered building material from the cartridge container or for feeding powdered building material into the cartridge container, having a closure member which is provided between the cartridge receiver and the connection side and by which the passage can be activated for opening and closing the passage.

A method of manufacturing a surgical implant includes simultaneously forming a first component and a second component of the surgical implant. Formation of the first and second components includes depositing a first quantity of material to a building platform and fusing the first quantity of material to form a first layer of the first and second components. The method of manufacturing also includes depositing a second quantity of material over the first layer of the first and second components and fusing the second quantity of material to form a second layer of the first and second components. The surgical implant is fully assembled upon the completion of the formation of the first and second components.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: a chamber, including a front plate; a door, provided at an opening of the front plate; an irradiator; a gas supplier, supplying an inert gas to the chamber; and a gas discharger, discharging the inert gas from the chamber. The gas supplier includes a middle nozzle and a lower nozzle. The middle nozzle is provided so as to cross the opening when the door is closed, has one end swingably supported on the front plate, and swings independently of opening and closing of the door.

An apparatus includes a build plate, a powder application apparatus that applies metal powder onto the build plate to form a powder layer, a beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates the powder layer with an electron beam, and a control unit that controls the powder application apparatus and the beam irradiation apparatus. When the powder layer is preheated by irradiation with the electron beam, the control unit sets a beam size and an irradiation position of the electron beam such that lines of the electron beam do not overlap each other at least at a start of preheating, and controls the beam irradiation apparatus to gradually increase at least one of a beam current and the beam size of the electron beam from the start of preheating to an end of preheating.

An integrated box-type 3D printing device, having a support structure, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a printer body. The first bracket is movable back and forth in a first direction on the support structure. The printer body is arranged on the second bracket. The second bracket is movable back and forth in a second direction relative to the first bracket. The printer body is movable back and forth in a third direction on the second bracket. The support structure is provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the second bracket. The second bracket is foldable in the opposite direction to the third direction so that the second bracket is foldable into the accommodating space so that the integrated box-type 3D printing device assumes a transport and storage configuration when the second bracket is folded into the accommodating space.

A tooling system, such as an additive manufacturing system, includes a tool displacement mechanism mounted on a fixed structure and carrying a system tool such as a printhead. The tool displacement mechanism displaces the system tool along a curvilinear closed path about a system axis and located within a working plane intersecting the system axis. A bed, connecting to the fixed structure, is substantially positioned within the working plane, locally adjacent the closed path and along at least a portion of the closed path.

A manipulator device such as a robot arm that is capable of increasing manufacturing throughput for additively manufactured parts, and allows for the manipulation of parts that would be difficult or impossible for a human to move is described. The manipulator can grasp various permanent or temporary additively manufactured manipulation points on a part to enable repositioning or maneuvering of the part.

A powder dispensing assembly for an additive manufacturing machine is provided. The powder dispensing assembly includes a housing that defines a powder reservoir that receives additive powder; a first plate removably connectable to the housing, the first plate defining a first discharge orifice having a first discharge orifice geometry; and a second plate removably connectable to the housing, the second plate defining a second discharge orifice having a second discharge orifice geometry different than the first discharge orifice geometry, wherein with the first plate connected to the housing, the additive powder flows out of the first discharge orifice at a first dosing rate, and wherein with the second plate connected to the housing, the additive powder flows out of the second discharge orifice at a second dosing rate different than the first dosing rate.