The disclosure relates in particular to a machine for additive manufacturing by sintering or melting powder using an energy beam acting on a powder layer in a working zone, said machine comprising a device for layering said powder. The device is configured to distribute the powder that are able to travel over the working zone in order to distribute the powder in a layer having a final thickness suitable for additive manufacturing; transfer the powder to a distribution structure by gravity, and control the quantity of powder transferred to the distribution structure.

A method and apparatus is presented. A portion is cut from a thermoplastic sheet of a first thermoplastic material based on a three dimensional model. The portion is secured to a mold. The portion and the mold are heated under vacuum to form a structure. The structure may take the form of a protective covering. In some illustrative examples, the mold may be formed of a second thermoplastic material based on the three dimensional model using additive manufacturing.

Methods are provided for printing a three-dimensional structural component onto a base. For example, a method of printing is provided, including receiving a set of predetermined thicknesses for the three-dimensional structural component. The set of predetermined thicknesses has a first thickness and a second thickness. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes instructing a printing device to print a single layer for the three-dimensional structural component using the set of predetermined thicknesses. The method further includes printing a first portion of the single layer onto the base so that the first portion has the first thickness. The method further includes printing a second portion of the single layer onto the base so that the second portion has the second thickness.

Methods are provided for printing a three-dimensional structural component onto a base. For example, a method of printing is provided, including receiving a set of predetermined thicknesses for the three-dimensional structural component. The set of predetermined thicknesses has a first thickness and a second thickness. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes instructing a printing device to print a single layer for the three-dimensional structural component using the set of predetermined thicknesses. The method further includes printing a first portion of the single layer onto the base so that the first portion has the first thickness. The method further includes printing a second portion of the single layer onto the base so that the second portion has the second thickness.

Methods that prevent oxygen inhibition of a light-initiated polymerization reaction by purging the oxygen from reaction surfaces using inert gas flow. In some embodiments, oxygen is purged using a gas diffusion system that introduces, via a diffuser, an inert gas into a workspace between a UV light source and a UV curable layer of a workpiece. The diffuser may be made of a transparent or diffuse material to allow UV light to pass through it, and includes an array of micro-holes for the gas to pass through towards the workpiece. The inert gas flow may be heated to maintain a desired and uniform reaction temperature.

An apparatus includes a precursor dispenser for dispensing a precursor material into a workspace, one or more acoustic sources configured to direct acoustic waves towards the workspace to provide acoustic fields that arrange the precursor material in a three-dimensional shape in the workspace, one or more sensors configured to detect a distribution of the precursor material in the workspace, and an electronic controller in communication with the precursor dispenser, the one or more acoustic sources, and the one or more sensors, the electronic controller being programmed to cause the one or more acoustic sources to adjust the acoustic fields to reduce deviations in the distribution of the precursor material from the three-dimensional shape in the workspace.

An apparatus includes a precursor dispenser for dispensing a precursor material into a workspace, one or more acoustic sources configured to direct acoustic waves towards the workspace to provide acoustic fields that arrange the precursor material in a three-dimensional shape in the workspace, one or more sensors configured to detect a distribution of the precursor material in the workspace, and an electronic controller in communication with the precursor dispenser, the one or more acoustic sources, and the one or more sensors, the electronic controller being programmed to cause the one or more acoustic sources to adjust the acoustic fields to reduce deviations in the distribution of the precursor material from the three-dimensional shape in the workspace.

A three-dimensional object manufacturing method includes a 3D object forming step of forming a three-dimensional object by discharging a UV curing type ink, and then carrying out UV irradiation on the discharged ink to form a layer, and overlapping a plurality of the layers (S101); a support material removing step of removing a support material from the three-dimensional object (S102), and a siloxane applying step of applying an organopolysiloxane solution for suppressing whitening of a surface of the three-dimensional object on the surface of the three-dimensional object (S104), where the organopolysiloxane solution is a solution having alcohol for making the support material transparent as a solvent, and having the organopolysiloxane compound for forming a film on the surface of the three-dimensional object by the drying of alcohol as a solute.

A three-dimensional object manufacturing method includes a 3D object forming step of forming a three-dimensional object by discharging a UV curing type ink, and then carrying out UV irradiation on the discharged ink to form a layer, and overlapping a plurality of the layers (S101); a support material removing step of removing a support material from the three-dimensional object (S102), and a siloxane applying step of applying an organopolysiloxane solution for suppressing whitening of a surface of the three-dimensional object on the surface of the three-dimensional object (S104), where the organopolysiloxane solution is a solution having alcohol for making the support material transparent as a solvent, and having the organopolysiloxane compound for forming a film on the surface of the three-dimensional object by the drying of alcohol as a solute.

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable advertisements (e.g., promotions, signs, logos, samples, etc.) to be part of the 3-D printing process. In an embodiment, advertisements (i.e., “ads”), such as partial product samples, may be 3-D printed prior to 3-D printing a purchased 3-D printable good. In another embodiment, ads may be 3-D printed on a 3-D printable good itself (e.g., embossed, impressed, as a tag, etc.). In a further embodiment, users may select the ads to be 3-D printed on their goods in return for compensation from advertisers.