In one example, a device to dispense a powder includes a hopper, an outlet from the hopper, a dispenser to dispense powdered build powder from the hopper through the outlet, and an agitator movable at the outlet intermittently at the urging of the dispenser.

An inertable container (10) for transporting an additive manufacturing powder comprises an inertable volume (12) and a main opening (14) granting access to the inside of this inertable volume, the inertable volume (12) comprising an upper portion (16) and a lower portion (18), the main opening (14) being located in the lower portion (18) of the inertable volume, and the section (S12) of the inertable volume (12) increasing gradually over at least part of the height (H10) of the container (10) and from the lower portion (18) towards the upper portion (16) of the inertable volume. The main opening is equipped with a passive half-valve (20) allowing this main opening (14) to be closed in such a way as to be sealed in an airtight and humidity-proof manner. The container comprises at least two inerting tappings.

A powder layer smoothing devices adapted for use with powder-layer three-dimensional printers are described. The smoothing devices include an oscillating smoothing device that includes a leading edge adapted to cut, remove, and redistribute excess powder in a powder layer. A leveling sled follows the leading edge to trowel and compact the powder in the powder layer.

A kit enables an efficient and contamination-free method of changing a resin used in a three dimensional printer from a first resin to a second resin. The three dimensional printer includes a print engine and a receptacle. The kit includes a conduit assembly and a resin container. The conduit assembly includes a fluid inlet configured to be affixed in the receptacle in an upward orientation, a pump head configured to be coupled to a motorized pump actuator in the receptacle, a first conduit coupling the fluid inlet to the pump head, a fluid outlet configured to supply resin to the print engine, and a second conduit coupling the pump head to the fluid outlet.

A kit enables an efficient and contamination-free method of changing a resin used in a three dimensional printer from a first resin to a second resin. The three dimensional printer includes a print engine and a receptacle. The kit includes a conduit assembly and a resin container. The conduit assembly includes a fluid inlet configured to be affixed in the receptacle in an upward orientation, a pump head configured to be coupled to a motorized pump actuator in the receptacle, a first conduit coupling the fluid inlet to the pump head, a fluid outlet configured to supply resin to the print engine, and a second conduit coupling the pump head to the fluid outlet.

A conveying system including a conveying channel, a reinforcement feed duct connected to the conveying channel at a reinforcement feed opening and configured to feed a reinforcement material to the conveying channel, and a blower configured to provide a blow in the reinforcement feed duct to push the reinforcement material towards the conveying channel. A compounding system including the same.

A conveying system including a conveying channel, a reinforcement feed duct connected to the conveying channel at a reinforcement feed opening and configured to feed a reinforcement material to the conveying channel, and a blower configured to provide a blow in the reinforcement feed duct to push the reinforcement material towards the conveying channel. A compounding system including the same.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a dispensing system positionable over a platen to deliver a powder, an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis, and an energy source to fuse a portion of the powder. The dispensing system has a hopper to hold the powder and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the channel of the dispenser is configured to receive the powder from the powder source. A powder conveyor is positioned within the channel to move the powder from the proximal end along a length of the channel, and a plurality of apertures are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel. The dispenser is configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a dispensing system positionable over a platen to deliver a powder, an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis, and an energy source to fuse a portion of the powder. The dispensing system has a hopper to hold the powder and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the channel of the dispenser is configured to receive the powder from the powder source. A powder conveyor is positioned within the channel to move the powder from the proximal end along a length of the channel, and a plurality of apertures are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel. The dispenser is configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable.

An additive feeder system is presented which is operable for use in a plastic injection molding machine including an injection component and a clamping component. The additive feeder system includes a feeder control unit, a feeder supply mechanism and feeder dosage control mechanism. The additive feeder system is operable to provide a specific dosage of the additive materiel in real-time for mixing with the raw material to achieve desired product characteristics. The additive feeder system may be applied to injection molding and extrusion, such as molding processes, plastic molding processes, blow molding, compression molding, extrusion molding, injection molding and laminating, and comprising additive feeders, for example for color mixing and nutrient supplements.