A workpiece-depowdering method and apparatus are provided. In another aspect, a method includes: robotically gripping an additively manufactured workpiece within an enclosure; and automatically blowing gas onto the additively manufactured workpiece to remove extra powder from the additively manufactured workpiece. A further method includes: additively layering powder within an additive manufacturing station, moving the additively manufactured workpiece to a depowdering station; holding the additively manufactured workpiece adjacent to the at least one nozzle with an automatically controlled gripper within the depowdering station; and depowdering the additively manufactured workpiece in the depowdering station by the gas. Another aspect provides a machine including: a robot configured to grip a workpiece; and a nozzle configured to blow excess powder off of the workpiece.

In one example, a method of producing a concrete test coupon comprises: separating a coarse aggregate from a concrete mix to obtain a fine cementitious material; combining the fine cementitious material with water to obtain a wet concrete slurry; pouring the wet concrete slurry into a tray having one or more cavities to produce one or more concrete pieces; air drying the one or more concrete pieces in the tray; removing the one or more concrete pieces from the tray; carbonating the one or more concrete pieces to produce one or more carbonated concrete pieces; washing the one or more carbonated concrete pieces; and sterilizing the one or more carbonated concrete pieces.

In one example, a method of producing a concrete test coupon comprises: separating a coarse aggregate from a concrete mix to obtain a fine cementitious material; combining the fine cementitious material with water to obtain a wet concrete slurry; pouring the wet concrete slurry into a tray having one or more cavities to produce one or more concrete pieces; air drying the one or more concrete pieces in the tray; removing the one or more concrete pieces from the tray; carbonating the one or more concrete pieces to produce one or more carbonated concrete pieces; washing the one or more carbonated concrete pieces; and sterilizing the one or more carbonated concrete pieces.

A de-powdering system includes one or more sidewalls defining a support chamber configured to contain an additive manufacturing build where the additive manufacturing build includes one or more objects disposed within a powder build material. A fluidization mechanism is fluidically couplable to a fluid source and includes one or more flow channels fluidically coupled to the support chamber. The fluid source is actuatable to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the support chamber and inject the fluid into the support chamber via the one or more flow channels. The one or more flow channels are oriented to introduce a swirling flow of the fluid into the support chamber to fluidize at least a portion of the powder build material within the support chamber.

A de-powdering system includes one or more sidewalls defining a support chamber configured to contain an additive manufacturing build where the additive manufacturing build includes one or more objects disposed within a powder build material. A fluidization mechanism is fluidically couplable to a fluid source and includes one or more flow channels fluidically coupled to the support chamber. The fluid source is actuatable to provide a fluid from the fluid source to the support chamber and inject the fluid into the support chamber via the one or more flow channels. The one or more flow channels are oriented to introduce a swirling flow of the fluid into the support chamber to fluidize at least a portion of the powder build material within the support chamber.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus, a system, and a method. The apparatus is configured to depowder and extract one or more printed parts prepared by a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The apparatus includes an elevated frame, a perforated plate, a lifting-lowering mechanism, a depowdering unit, and at least one gripper. The elevated frame is removably secured to an open top of a first container and configured to transversely receive fully raised at least one 3D printed layer and partially raised at least one powder layer. Upon lifting the elevated frame along with the perforated plate, the depowdering unit is configured to depowder the at least one powder layer and powder in between the one or more 3D printed parts. The at least one gripper is configured to automatically extract the one or more 3D printed parts.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus, a system, and a method. The apparatus is configured to depowder and extract one or more printed parts prepared by a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The apparatus includes an elevated frame, a perforated plate, a lifting-lowering mechanism, a depowdering unit, and at least one gripper. The elevated frame is removably secured to an open top of a first container and configured to transversely receive fully raised at least one 3D printed layer and partially raised at least one powder layer. Upon lifting the elevated frame along with the perforated plate, the depowdering unit is configured to depowder the at least one powder layer and powder in between the one or more 3D printed parts. The at least one gripper is configured to automatically extract the one or more 3D printed parts.