A method for operating a three-dimensional object printer compensates for inoperative ejectors. The method identifies image data values associated with an inoperative ejector that stored in a memory with other image data values for a three-dimensional object to be printed by the three-dimensional object printer. The method replaces the image data values associated with the inoperative ejector with image data values associated with an operative ejector that correspond to a material that is different than a material ejected by the inoperative ejector and operates a plurality of ejectors with reference to the other image data values and the replaced image data values to enable the operative ejector to eject drops of the material that is different than the material ejected by the inoperative ejector into the three-dimensional object at positions where the inoperative ejector would have ejected material.

A method for operating a three-dimensional object printer compensates for inoperative ejectors. The method identifies image data values associated with an inoperative ejector that stored in a memory with other image data values for a three-dimensional object to be printed by the three-dimensional object printer. The method replaces the image data values associated with the inoperative ejector with image data values associated with an operative ejector that correspond to a material that is different than a material ejected by the inoperative ejector and operates a plurality of ejectors with reference to the other image data values and the replaced image data values to enable the operative ejector to eject drops of the material that is different than the material ejected by the inoperative ejector into the three-dimensional object at positions where the inoperative ejector would have ejected material.

A device for separating particles contained in a gas stream for selective additive manufacturing and a selective additive manufacturing apparatus are disclosed. The device comprises at least one dry-type aeraulic separator comprising a separating turbine, a speed of rotation of which is variable. The dry-type aeraulic separator selects the particles contained in the gas stream according to a particle size depending on the speed of rotation of the separating turbine. The device also comprises a device for extracting the particles. The dry-type aeraulic separator and the extraction device are in fluidic communication such that a gas stream exiting the dry-type aeraulic separator circulates through the extraction device and such that the gas stream exiting the extraction device circulates through the dry-type aeraulic separator. The device also comprises a device for circulating the gas stream between the dry-type aeraulic separator and the extraction device.

A bottom-up stereolithography apparatus (SLA) (150) comprises a support surface (152) and a vat assembly (100) comprises a first frame part (110) having a first upper surface (112) and a circumferential first inner side surface (113) defining a recess (114) within the first frame part. The apparatus comprises an air channel (115) opening to the recess (114) through the first inner side surface (113). A receptacle (130) comprising a bowl is placeable in the vat assembly with the bowl in the recess so that, with the thereby formed vat (101) placed on the support surface (152), air can be evacuated from the recess (114) via the air channel (115) to stretch the bowl (131) against the support surface and the first inner side surface (113).

A system for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing including an apparatus, having a storage container for storing powdered material that can be solidified, and a process chamber fluidly connected to the storage container and arranged for receiving at least a part of the powdered material for forming a bath of material within the process chamber. Furthermore, a structure is provided for positioning the object in relation to the surface level of the bath of material. The apparatus also includes a solidifying device for solidifying a layer of the bath of material. A supply device is provided, having a supply container for storing a supply of powdered material that can be solidified, wherein the supply device is fluidly connected, or at least connectable, to the storage container, and wherein the apparatus is arranged for transferring powdered material between the supply container and the storage container.

A system for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing including an apparatus, having a storage container for storing powdered material that can be solidified, and a process chamber fluidly connected to the storage container and arranged for receiving at least a part of the powdered material for forming a bath of material within the process chamber. Furthermore, a structure is provided for positioning the object in relation to the surface level of the bath of material. The apparatus also includes a solidifying device for solidifying a layer of the bath of material. A supply device is provided, having a supply container for storing a supply of powdered material that can be solidified, wherein the supply device is fluidly connected, or at least connectable, to the storage container, and wherein the apparatus is arranged for transferring powdered material between the supply container and the storage container.

A molding subsystem includes a reconfigurable mold and a control subsystem. The reconfigurable mold includes one or more plates, with each plate including: a plurality of pins defining a molding surface of the reconfigurable mold; a frame which defines a plurality of channels for receiving the plurality of pins; and a plurality of actuators for moving the plurality of pins in a first axial direction. The control subsystem includes a controller operably connected to the plurality of actuators of each plate, such that the controller can communicate instructions to and/or obtain readings therefrom. The molding surface of each plate can be manipulated in response to pin movement to facilitate the manufacture of articles of different shape and dimension. Output data corresponding to a digital model of an article placed in the reconfigurable mold can be generated based on readings obtained by the plurality of actuators of each plate.

A molding subsystem includes a reconfigurable mold and a control subsystem. The reconfigurable mold includes one or more plates, with each plate including: a plurality of pins defining a molding surface of the reconfigurable mold; a frame which defines a plurality of channels for receiving the plurality of pins; and a plurality of actuators for moving the plurality of pins in a first axial direction. The control subsystem includes a controller operably connected to the plurality of actuators of each plate, such that the controller can communicate instructions to and/or obtain readings therefrom. The molding surface of each plate can be manipulated in response to pin movement to facilitate the manufacture of articles of different shape and dimension. Output data corresponding to a digital model of an article placed in the reconfigurable mold can be generated based on readings obtained by the plurality of actuators of each plate.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a three-dimensional fabricator. An image processing module acquires an image of a rock sample having a network of pores, a transformation module transforms the image into a binary matrix and determine a set of statistical moments of the binary matrix, a layer generation module generates a first representation of a first stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample and generates a second representation of a second stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample. An arrangement module arranges the first representation and the second representation as adjacent layers of a three-dimensional model emulative of the rock sample, and provides the first representation and the second representation to the 3D fabricator for fabrication as a physical three-dimensional fluid micromodel emulative of the rock sample.

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a three-dimensional fabricator. An image processing module acquires an image of a rock sample having a network of pores, a transformation module transforms the image into a binary matrix and determine a set of statistical moments of the binary matrix, a layer generation module generates a first representation of a first stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample and generates a second representation of a second stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample. An arrangement module arranges the first representation and the second representation as adjacent layers of a three-dimensional model emulative of the rock sample, and provides the first representation and the second representation to the 3D fabricator for fabrication as a physical three-dimensional fluid micromodel emulative of the rock sample.