The invention relates to a printhead (1) for a 3D printer, particularly a metal printer, comprising a housing (3), a device (28) for supplying a metal (14), a reservoir (7, 27), a nozzle device (2) and a piston (5), the nozzle device (2) comprising a guide sleeve (11), a nozzle plate (9) provided with an outlet (10), and a clamping device (4). The nozzle plate (9) and the guide sleeve (11) are mutually elastically braced by means of the clamping device (4), and the guide sleeve (11) and the reservoir (7, 27) are mutually elastically braced by means of the clamping device (4).

In an embodiment, an article comprises a plurality of structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises a first portion; a second portion; wherein the second portion contacts the first portion; and a third portion; wherein the third portion is in communication with the first portion and the second portion and is more compressible than the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first portion comprises a first shape memory alloy having a first preset state and wherein the second portion comprises a second shape memory alloy that has a second preset state; wherein the second preset state is different from the first preset state.

In an embodiment, an article comprises a plurality of structural units, wherein each structural unit comprises a first portion; a second portion; wherein the second portion contacts the first portion; and a third portion; wherein the third portion is in communication with the first portion and the second portion and is more compressible than the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first portion comprises a first shape memory alloy having a first preset state and wherein the second portion comprises a second shape memory alloy that has a second preset state; wherein the second preset state is different from the first preset state.

A process for producing a metallic structure by additive manufacturing comprises: providing a deposition-receptive substrate comprising a profiled surface, the profiled surface comprising a plurality of recessed and/or protruding surface features having elongated non-vertical walls and a depth of at least 0.5 mm relative to a base plane of the substrate; depositing metallic material on the substrate by an additive manufacturing technique to produce a first deposition layer which conforms to the profiled surface including the elongated non-vertical walls; and depositing successive deposition layers of the metallic material on the first deposition layer by the additive manufacturing technique to build up a metallic structure having a first thickness on the substrate, wherein each successive deposition layer conforms sufficiently to the profile of its preceding deposition layer to propagate a surface profile corresponding to the profiled surface of the substrate through the first thickness or a substantial portion thereof.

A process for producing a metallic structure by additive manufacturing comprises: providing a deposition-receptive substrate comprising a profiled surface, the profiled surface comprising a plurality of recessed and/or protruding surface features having elongated non-vertical walls and a depth of at least 0.5 mm relative to a base plane of the substrate; depositing metallic material on the substrate by an additive manufacturing technique to produce a first deposition layer which conforms to the profiled surface including the elongated non-vertical walls; and depositing successive deposition layers of the metallic material on the first deposition layer by the additive manufacturing technique to build up a metallic structure having a first thickness on the substrate, wherein each successive deposition layer conforms sufficiently to the profile of its preceding deposition layer to propagate a surface profile corresponding to the profiled surface of the substrate through the first thickness or a substantial portion thereof.

Support substrates are used in certain additive fabrication processes to permit processing of an object. For additive fabrication processes with materials that are sintered into a final part, a multi-layer support substrate of interleaved support and interface layers is fabricated to support an object while reducing an impact of friction on shrinkage of the part during the sintering process.

Support substrates are used in certain additive fabrication processes to permit processing of an object. For additive fabrication processes with materials that are sintered into a final part, a multi-layer support substrate of interleaved support and interface layers is fabricated to support an object while reducing an impact of friction on shrinkage of the part during the sintering process.

The present invention relates to a shrinking interface composition that allows for the accommodation of sintering shrinkage between two or more areas or sections of a three-dimensionally printed part and/or support structures for the part. The interface composition, which can be in the form of an interface layer, is used to prevent the fusing of the sections, parts or support structures to each other.

The present invention relates to a shrinking interface composition that allows for the accommodation of sintering shrinkage between two or more areas or sections of a three-dimensionally printed part and/or support structures for the part. The interface composition, which can be in the form of an interface layer, is used to prevent the fusing of the sections, parts or support structures to each other.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and tooling for additive manufacturing on a build surface of a pre-existing component. An additive manufacturing tool successively positions layers of powdered materials and selectively fuses the layers of powdered materials to create an additive component on the build surface of the pre-existing component. The pre-existing component is secured in a build plate by a thermal expansion fit during the additive manufacturing process.