Techniques for depowdering in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are provided that separate powder from parts through vibration of the powder, the parts, and/or structures mechanically connected to the powder and/or parts. For instance, the application of vibration may dislodge, aerate and/or otherwise increase the flowability of regions of the powder, thereby making it easier to remove the powder with a suitable means. Techniques for depowdering through vibration may be automated, thereby mitigating challenges associated with manual depowdering operations.

Techniques for depowdering in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, techniques are provided that separate powder from parts through vibration of the powder, the parts, and/or structures mechanically connected to the powder and/or parts. For instance, the application of vibration may dislodge, aerate and/or otherwise increase the flowability of regions of the powder, thereby making it easier to remove the powder with a suitable means. Techniques for depowdering through vibration may be automated, thereby mitigating challenges associated with manual depowdering operations.

A method of additive manufacturing metallic components, the method includes: forming a component in a layer by layer process, the component being formed integrally with at least one non-perforated support structure to be separated from the component after the layer by layer process, the support structure being formed with at least one wall that is non-perforated; and wherein after completion of the layer by layer process, the method includes exposing the component and support structure to at least one thermal pulse so as to weaken, or break, the interface(s) between the support structure and component prior to removal of the support.

A method of additive manufacturing metallic components, the method includes: forming a component in a layer by layer process, the component being formed integrally with at least one non-perforated support structure to be separated from the component after the layer by layer process, the support structure being formed with at least one wall that is non-perforated; and wherein after completion of the layer by layer process, the method includes exposing the component and support structure to at least one thermal pulse so as to weaken, or break, the interface(s) between the support structure and component prior to removal of the support.

A method is provided for printing a three-dimensional object. The method comprises, depositing a layer of metal powder onto a powder bed of a three-dimensional printer. A liquid is heated to generate a vapor. The liquid is removed from the vapor to dry the vapor by heating the vapor above a condensation temperature of the liquid. The dry vapor is deposited onto the powder bed of the three-dimensional printer.

A method is provided for printing a three-dimensional object. The method comprises, depositing a layer of metal powder onto a powder bed of a three-dimensional printer. A liquid is heated to generate a vapor. The liquid is removed from the vapor to dry the vapor by heating the vapor above a condensation temperature of the liquid. The dry vapor is deposited onto the powder bed of the three-dimensional printer.

To provide novel low-temperature sinterable copper particles that can be sintered even at a low temperature of, for example, around 100 C. or less, and a method for producing a sintered body by using the same. The low-temperature sinterable copper particles according to the present invention are coated with a carboxylic acid, and a surface of the copper particle is oxidized so as to have a cuprous oxide fraction (Cu.sub.2O/(Cu+Cu.sub.2O)) in the copper particle of 4% by mass or less or so as to have an average coating thickness of cuprous oxide of 10 nm or less. The low-temperature sinterable copper particles are subjected to low-temperature firing in an atmosphere of 0.01 Pa or less.

To provide novel low-temperature sinterable copper particles that can be sintered even at a low temperature of, for example, around 100 C. or less, and a method for producing a sintered body by using the same. The low-temperature sinterable copper particles according to the present invention are coated with a carboxylic acid, and a surface of the copper particle is oxidized so as to have a cuprous oxide fraction (Cu.sub.2O/(Cu+Cu.sub.2O)) in the copper particle of 4% by mass or less or so as to have an average coating thickness of cuprous oxide of 10 nm or less. The low-temperature sinterable copper particles are subjected to low-temperature firing in an atmosphere of 0.01 Pa or less.

A method for treating additive manufacturing powder particles is provided. The method includes exposing the additive manufacturing powder particles to plasma radiation, where the plasma radiation forms functional groups, on surfaces of the additive manufacturing powder particles, having molecular bonds that vibrate in response to irradiation by laser energy of an additive manufacturing process, and moving the additive manufacturing powder particles to expose the additive manufacturing powder particles to the plasma radiation.

A method for treating additive manufacturing powder particles is provided. The method includes exposing the additive manufacturing powder particles to plasma radiation, where the plasma radiation forms functional groups, on surfaces of the additive manufacturing powder particles, having molecular bonds that vibrate in response to irradiation by laser energy of an additive manufacturing process, and moving the additive manufacturing powder particles to expose the additive manufacturing powder particles to the plasma radiation.