In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a method is described. The example method determining parameters for a pulsed laser to generate a melt pool pattern in a three-dimensional (3D) object to produce different phases in the 3D object that vary according to the melt pool pattern. The example method also includes controlling the pulsed laser to form the 3D object in an additive manufacturing process based on the determined parameters and the melt pool pattern.

A method of making a printed circuit board pallet is provided. The method of making the pallet illustratively includes the steps of: providing a base in a form of a polymer sheet stock; applying a fluid onto the base at selective locations where the pallet will be built-up to a three-dimensional form; depositing a polymer powder onto the base at the selective locations applied with the fluid; removing any excess amounts of the polymer powder not adhered to the fluid; and heating the pallet to fuse the polymer powder together and to the base.

A method of making a printed circuit board pallet is provided. The method of making the pallet illustratively includes the steps of: providing a base in a form of a polymer sheet stock; applying a fluid onto the base at selective locations where the pallet will be built-up to a three-dimensional form; depositing a polymer powder onto the base at the selective locations applied with the fluid; removing any excess amounts of the polymer powder not adhered to the fluid; and heating the pallet to fuse the polymer powder together and to the base.

Methods are described for creating a correspondence between percentages of a spot color and print material thicknesses. For example, a method can include printing a set of printed regions on a substrate, wherein each printed region is printed according to a different percentage of a selected spot color. The method can further comprise measuring the thickness of each printed region. The method can further comprise comparing the thickness of each printed region with a target thickness for the printed region. The target thickness for the printed region can be determined according to the percentage of the selected spot color used for printing the printed region. The method can further comprise, for each target thickness, determining an adjusted spot color percentage required to print a layer of structural print material having the target thickness.

Methods are described for creating a correspondence between percentages of a spot color and print material thicknesses. For example, a method can include printing a set of printed regions on a substrate, wherein each printed region is printed according to a different percentage of a selected spot color. The method can further comprise measuring the thickness of each printed region. The method can further comprise comparing the thickness of each printed region with a target thickness for the printed region. The target thickness for the printed region can be determined according to the percentage of the selected spot color used for printing the printed region. The method can further comprise, for each target thickness, determining an adjusted spot color percentage required to print a layer of structural print material having the target thickness.

In an example, a method for generating control data for production of a three-dimensional object is described. A model of the three-dimensional object is obtained as a array of voxels, and it is determined for each voxel whether that voxel comprises part of a first or a second sub-object of the three-dimensional object. Each first sub-object voxel is mapped to a volume coverage representation defining print material data for that voxel. The second sub-object voxels are mapped to a volume coverage representation defining common print material data for the voxels of second sub-object. Control data for printing the first sub-object is generated from the print material data for that voxel common print material data for the Control data for printing the second sub-object is generated according to the volume coverage representation for the second sub-object.

In an example, a method for generating control data for production of a three-dimensional object is described. A model of the three-dimensional object is obtained as a array of voxels, and it is determined for each voxel whether that voxel comprises part of a first or a second sub-object of the three-dimensional object. Each first sub-object voxel is mapped to a volume coverage representation defining print material data for that voxel. The second sub-object voxels are mapped to a volume coverage representation defining common print material data for the voxels of second sub-object. Control data for printing the first sub-object is generated from the print material data for that voxel common print material data for the Control data for printing the second sub-object is generated according to the volume coverage representation for the second sub-object.

A repair system that includes a handheld device comprising a first extruder tip having an interior passageway extending between an inlet and a tip outlet, wherein the inlet is configured to receive a solid thermoplastic material and the tip outlet is configured to dispense a fluidic thermoplastic material; a nozzle surrounding the first extruder tip to form an annulus between an interior surface of the nozzle and an exterior surface of the first extruder tip; and a heater that is configured to heat the interior passageway of the first extruder tip such that the solid thermoplastic material becomes the fluidic thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, the repair system also includes a gas source in fluid communication with the annulus such that a skirt-shaped curtain of gas extends from the annulus and in a direction towards the tip outlet of the extruder tip.

A smart ring includes a body including flexible material, a first part, a second part removably connected to the first part, and at least one pair of break-away portions disposed within the body separate from the first part and the second part. One or more of a battery, a charging unit, a processor unit, a user input unit, a communication unit, a memory unit, at least one sensor unit, an output unit or a user input unit is disposed in or on one of the first part and the second part. Each of the break-away portions of the pair of break-away portions is removable from the other break-away portion upon movement of one break-away portion in a direction away from the other break-away portion.

A smart ring includes a body including flexible material, a first part, a second part removably connected to the first part, and at least one pair of break-away portions disposed within the body separate from the first part and the second part. One or more of a battery, a charging unit, a processor unit, a user input unit, a communication unit, a memory unit, at least one sensor unit, an output unit or a user input unit is disposed in or on one of the first part and the second part. Each of the break-away portions of the pair of break-away portions is removable from the other break-away portion upon movement of one break-away portion in a direction away from the other break-away portion.