A method for producing a shaped body from a curable material, in particular from a mineral binder composition, wherein the curable material is applied layer by layer in an additive method, in particular in an additive free-space method, by a printing head that can be moved in at least one spatial direction and wherein an application rate of the curable material and the temporal development of strength of the curable material are coordinated with each other.

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.

A bearing rolling element with a lattice internal structure provides several advantages over a solid bearing. It is lighter than a solid bearing, reducing centrifugal forces. For ceramic bearings, less material is required, and sintering times are reduced because bonding material can flow easily to near the surface. Elements with an internal lattice also offer advantages over hollow rolling elements. The shell can be thinner without sacrificing load capacity. The thinner shell reduces the time required for bonding material to be removed during sintering. The blank can be formed using various additive manufacturing processes.

An inspection system for a fabricated object formed by layering powder includes an acquisition unit that acquires an image of a surface of each of layers, an identification unit that identifies a defect portion (protruding portion or recessed portion) on the surface of the powder and a position of the defect portion based on the acquired image, and a determination unit that determines that an abnormality occurs when the defect portion successively occurs at a same position in the plurality of layers.

Systems and methods of additively manufacturing passive electronic components are provided. An additive manufacturing device may deposit a material to create a passive electronic component. A sensor may continuously measure an electrical property of the passive electronic component across two electrical contacts as the material is deposited during manufacturing. The sensor may transmit the measured electrical property to a processor whereby the processor may adjust a material deposition rate of the additive manufacturing device. The continuous measurement of the electrical property and adjustment of the material deposition rate as the passive electronic component is produced allows for passive electronic components to be manufactured to a high degree of accuracy of the electrical property.

The present invention relates to a suspension comprising 50-95% by weight of the total suspension (w/w) of at least one metallic material and/or ceramic material and/or polymeric material and/or solid carbon containing material; and at least 5% by weight of the total suspension of one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof. In addition, the invention relates to uses of such suspension in 3D printing processes.

A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed faceplate is connected to the blade and partially defines a cutter pocket therein. Another portion of the cutter pocket is defined by the blade. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, with the sidewall formed by the blade and the pre-formed faceplate, and the base formed by the blade. The pre-formed faceplate includes a pre-formed hardfacing element. A downhole tool includes a blade coupled to a body. The body and blade rotate about a longitudinal axis. A pre-formed segment is connected to the blade and has a cutter pocket therein. The cutter pocket includes a sidewall and a base, and a cutting element is coupled to the pre-formed segment and within the cutter pocket. The pre-formed segment is optionally made of a different material than the blade and has increased wear and/or erosion resistance compared to the blade.

A system and method is provided to construct a structure using three dimensional printing of extrudable building material to a wall surface of a structure. According to one embodiment, a printing assembly is moveably disposed above the surface, and extrudable building material is applied from a nozzle onto the surface. One or more profilometers measure at periodic intervals along a geometric cross-section of a bead of extrudable building material. One or more controllers compare the measured cross-section to a predetermined, target cross section and one or more controllers periodically change, for example, the rate of application and/or the viscosity of the extrudable building material applied along the longitudinal axis. The nozzle direction can change, and the profilometers can be rotated about the nozzle along different longitudinal axes, or directions, depending on the wall locations being formed.

A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area.

The invention relates to a binder, which contains water glass and further a phosphate or a borate or both. The invention further relates to a method for constructing molds and cores layer by layer, the molds and cores comprising a construction material mixture, which at least comprises a refractory molding base material, and the binder. In order to produce the molds and cores layer by layer in 3-D printing, the refractory molding base material is applied layer by layer and is selectively printed with the binder layer by layer, and consequently a body corresponding to the molds or cores is constructed and the molds or cores are released after the unbonded construction material mixture has been removed.