A method of making a workpiece in an additive manufacturing process includes determining a preferred angular orientation of the grid array about a build axis extending perpendicular to a layer to be built for a first layer of a workpiece. The preferred angular orientation is selected to align an edge of one or more pixels with an edge of the layer of the workpiece being built. The method further includes orienting a patterned image of radiant energy to the preferred angular orientation by rotating a projector before solidifying a portion of a resin that forms the first layer of the workpiece.

A method of making a workpiece in an additive manufacturing process includes determining a preferred angular orientation of the grid array about a build axis extending perpendicular to a layer to be built for a first layer of a workpiece. The preferred angular orientation is selected to align an edge of one or more pixels with an edge of the layer of the workpiece being built. The method further includes orienting a patterned image of radiant energy to the preferred angular orientation by rotating a projector before solidifying a portion of a resin that forms the first layer of the workpiece.

In one aspect, urethane waxes are described herein comprising a reaction product between monofunctional polyethylene oxide and polyisocyanate. In some embodiments, the urethane waxes are combined with other components to provide support materials for use in three-dimensional printing applications. A support material ink, for example, comprises a urethane wax comprising a reaction product between monofunctional polyethylene oxide and polyisocyanate. The support material ink, in some embodiments, further comprises monomeric curable material, oligomeric curable material, or mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, urethane waxes are described herein comprising a reaction product between monofunctional polyethylene oxide and polyisocyanate. In some embodiments, the urethane waxes are combined with other components to provide support materials for use in three-dimensional printing applications. A support material ink, for example, comprises a urethane wax comprising a reaction product between monofunctional polyethylene oxide and polyisocyanate. The support material ink, in some embodiments, further comprises monomeric curable material, oligomeric curable material, or mixtures thereof.

A data generation program includes instructions of: acquiring three-dimensional data representing a three-dimensional shape of a three-dimensional product; acquiring an arrangement condition for arranging a support member to the three-dimensional product; setting an extending direction, a width direction, and a height direction of the support member; adding a cutting margin of a particular thickness to a cutting surface of the three-dimensional product at one side in the height direction; setting the support member in accordance with the arrangement condition, one end of the support member in the extending direction being connected to the cutting margin added to the three-dimensional product; setting a beam, the beam being spaced from the three-dimensional product having the cutting margin in the extending direction, the beam extending in the width direction; generating three-dimensional modeling data for modeling a modeled object by using a three-dimensional modeling apparatus; and outputting the three-dimensional modeling data.

A data generation program includes instructions of: acquiring three-dimensional data representing a three-dimensional shape of a three-dimensional product; acquiring an arrangement condition for arranging a support member to the three-dimensional product; setting an extending direction, a width direction, and a height direction of the support member; adding a cutting margin of a particular thickness to a cutting surface of the three-dimensional product at one side in the height direction; setting the support member in accordance with the arrangement condition, one end of the support member in the extending direction being connected to the cutting margin added to the three-dimensional product; setting a beam, the beam being spaced from the three-dimensional product having the cutting margin in the extending direction, the beam extending in the width direction; generating three-dimensional modeling data for modeling a modeled object by using a three-dimensional modeling apparatus; and outputting the three-dimensional modeling data.

A method of additive manufacturing is comprised of providing a material comprised of a ethyl cellulose polymer having an ethoxy content of 43% to 52% by mass and a plasticizer. The material is heated and dispensed through a nozzle to form an extrudate deposited on a base. The base, nozzle or combination thereof is moved while dispensing the material so that there is horizontal displacement between the base and nozzle in a predetermined pattern to form an initial layer of the material on the base and successive layers of the material are adhered on the initial layer to form an additive manufactured part by repeating the aforementioned steps. The article formed of the ethyl cellulose polymer may be used in many applications such as those related to the pharmaceutical and food industries.

A method of additive manufacturing is comprised of providing a material comprised of a ethyl cellulose polymer having an ethoxy content of 43% to 52% by mass and a plasticizer. The material is heated and dispensed through a nozzle to form an extrudate deposited on a base. The base, nozzle or combination thereof is moved while dispensing the material so that there is horizontal displacement between the base and nozzle in a predetermined pattern to form an initial layer of the material on the base and successive layers of the material are adhered on the initial layer to form an additive manufactured part by repeating the aforementioned steps. The article formed of the ethyl cellulose polymer may be used in many applications such as those related to the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Network enabled 3D printing and automated processing techniques for oral devices are disclosed herein. An example technique includes receiving, via a network, a data file representative of a mouth of a user, and printing, by a 3D printer, a 3D oral device based on the data file. The example technique may further include automatically ejecting, from the 3D printer, the 3D oral device, and scanning the 3D oral device to generate a 3D scan file of the 3D oral device. The example technique may further include comparing the 3D scan file with the data file to determine at least one feature represented in the 3D scan file that exceeds a deviation threshold relative to a corresponding respective feature represented in the data file; and finishing, by a finishing module, the 3D oral device by smoothing the at least one feature on the 3D oral device.

Network enabled 3D printing and automated processing techniques for oral devices are disclosed herein. An example technique includes receiving, via a network, a data file representative of a mouth of a user, and printing, by a 3D printer, a 3D oral device based on the data file. The example technique may further include automatically ejecting, from the 3D printer, the 3D oral device, and scanning the 3D oral device to generate a 3D scan file of the 3D oral device. The example technique may further include comparing the 3D scan file with the data file to determine at least one feature represented in the 3D scan file that exceeds a deviation threshold relative to a corresponding respective feature represented in the data file; and finishing, by a finishing module, the 3D oral device by smoothing the at least one feature on the 3D oral device.