A printer is configured with at least two printheads that are separated from one another in a cross-process direction by an integral multiple of printhead widths. This configuration enables parallel swaths of material to be ejected and then movement of the printheads in the cross-process direction by a distance corresponding to one or more integral numbers of the printhead width enables the area between the swaths to be completed and the area outside of the original swaths printed.

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.

The invention provides a lead screw guide assembly and a three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus, wherein the lead screw guide assembly includes a base, a first guiding member, a second guiding member and a lead screw guide. The first guiding member is disposed on the base and has a first channel extending along an axis. The second guiding member is movably coupled to the first guiding member along the axis. The lead screw guide is movably disposed on the base along the axis and located in the first channel. The lead screw guide is coupled to the second guiding member, so as to drive the second guiding member to move along the axis and hide in the first channel or protrude from the first channel.

A coating device arrangement 1 for a 3D printer is disclosed, comprising a coating device 3 having a container 17 defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material, and a stroking member 15a, by which a stroking surface is formed which is directed downward, and which is configured to stroke over construction material output from the opening using the stroking surface to thereby level and/or compress the output particulate material. The coating device arrangement 1 further comprises a setting device 13 which is configured to variably set an inclination angle of the stroking surface 15a.

A coating device arrangement 1 for a 3D printer is disclosed, comprising a coating device 3 having a container 17 defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material, and a stroking member 15a, by which a stroking surface is formed which is directed downward, and which is configured to stroke over construction material output from the opening using the stroking surface to thereby level and/or compress the output particulate material. The coating device arrangement 1 further comprises a setting device 13 which is configured to variably set an inclination angle of the stroking surface 15a.

Provided are a method and apparatus for manufacturing a radiation beam intensity modulator. The method includes: obtaining dose modulation information expressed as a density matrix or three-dimensional (3D) structure information provided from a radiotherapy treatment planning system; obtaining design condition information of a radiation beam intensity modulator provided from the radiotherapy treatment planning system; generating a radiation beam intensity modulator structure based on the design condition information of the radiation beam intensity modulator and the dose modulation information expressed as the density matrix or the 3D structure information; adjusting the radiation beam intensity modulator structure by comparing at least one of an actual manufacturing condition and a treatment condition with the design condition information of the radiation beam intensity modulator; and manufacturing the radiation beam intensity modulator based on the radiation beam intensity modulator structure that is adjusted.

Provided are a method and apparatus for manufacturing a radiation beam intensity modulator. The method includes: obtaining dose modulation information expressed as a density matrix or three-dimensional (3D) structure information provided from a radiotherapy treatment planning system; obtaining design condition information of a radiation beam intensity modulator provided from the radiotherapy treatment planning system; generating a radiation beam intensity modulator structure based on the design condition information of the radiation beam intensity modulator and the dose modulation information expressed as the density matrix or the 3D structure information; adjusting the radiation beam intensity modulator structure by comparing at least one of an actual manufacturing condition and a treatment condition with the design condition information of the radiation beam intensity modulator; and manufacturing the radiation beam intensity modulator based on the radiation beam intensity modulator structure that is adjusted.

A nozzle for a three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising a main nozzle body (2) having an inlet end (4), an outlet end (6) and a central conduit (8) arranged there between, wherein the main nozzle body (2) is made of an electrically non-conductive body material. The main nozzle body (2) is provided with an electrically conductive first layer (10) and/or an electrically non-conductive second layer (12) arranged around the main nozzle body (2).

A method for printing an object using a high power one-dimensional (1D) line laser imager for selective laser sintering of thermal plastics. The technique is a two-step process. First, a layer of fresh powder is deposited on top of an existing powder bed. Second, the powder is sintered with the line laser print head. The laser is modulated at the source or with a spatial light modulator. Multiple passes or imagers can be used for increased part width and productivity. Using the relative travel between energy receiving surface and the laser print head in the direction perpendicular to the laser imaging line, a 2D pattern is imaged. Multiple print head can be aligned and joined to form a wider laser print head.