Provided is a method and device for removing chemically dissolvable support material from objects created by a three-dimensional printing process. In one exemplary embodiment a tank for holding a cleaning solution has a cleaning section and a fluid handling section, and a full level below a top rim thereof. A generally box-shaped parts basket configured to be removeably installed within the cleaning section of the tank has four fluid impermeable walls, a bottom panel perforated throughout with an array of holes, and an openable top cover, wherein the openable top cover is below the full level of the tank and the bottom panel of the parts basket is supported above a floor of the tank when the parts basket is installed. A fluid pump disposed in a fluid handling section of the main tank is configured to inject a fluid stream into the parts basket at a downward angle with respect to horizontal, and at a lateral angle with respect to a line passing through a center of the parts basket, with sufficient velocity and flow rate to induce a fluid current that circulates around an interior of the parts basket as it continuously descends and exits the parts basket through the perforated bottom panel.

The polyglycolic acid having a content of low molecular weight substance of less than 1% by weight; and a molded article thereof having a thickness of 2 mm or greater, the time at which immersion of the molded article in water at 66 C. is started to the time at which the polyglycolic acid decomposed by the water starts to elute being 1 hour or longer by 30 hours or shorter, and a rate of embrittlement, at which embrittlement proceeds due to the elution of the polyglycolic acid, being 0.025 mm/h or greater.

A forming method of a water-soluble protective film on a front surface of a plate-shaped object includes a water-soluble sheet arrangement step of arranging a water-soluble resin sheet having thermoplasticity on a side of the front surface of the plate-shaped object, and an integration step of heating the water-soluble resin sheet to melt or soften the same, and integrating the water-soluble resin sheet and the plate-shaped object, to form the water-soluble protective film on the plate-shaped object. Preferably, the water-soluble resin sheet may contain a light absorber. A processing method of a plate-shaped object includes the water-soluble sheet arrangement step and integration step.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is described. The method may use a polymerizable liquid, or resin, useful for the production by additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from said first component.

An adhesion promoter composition is including one or more reactive silanes, one or more swelling agents, and one or more organic solvents, where the one or more reactive silanes forms a complex with the one or more swelling agents is disclosed. The one or more reactive silanes may include an amine functional group, an epoxy functional group, a mercapto functional group, an isocyanate functional group, or a combination thereof. The one or more swelling agents is selected from a group which may include phenol or naphthol derivatives. A composite part including the adhesion promoter composition and a method for applying the adhesion promoter composition is also disclosed.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid including a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer scaffold from the first component and also advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, and containing the second solidifiable component carried in the scaffold in unsolidified and/or uncured form; and (d) concurrently with or subsequent to the irradiating step, solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.

Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.

Examples of the present disclosure are directed toward methods and system for reducing surface roughness of a cured three-dimensional (3D) printed object using a localized heat source. An example method includes applying a liquid solvent to the cured 3D printed object and heating the cured 3D printed object with the liquid solvent applied thereto to a temperature below a melting point of the cured 3D printed object using a localized heat source to reduce a surface roughness of the cured 3D printed object as compared to the cured 3D printed object prior to the application of heat.

The present invention provides apparatus for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part, comprising a reservoir (402) for containing a liquid solvent; a processing chamber (408) in controllable fluid communication with the reservoir, and a controller (418) configured to controllably post-process an additively manufactured polymer part located in the processing chamber by the solvent responsive to at least one parameter associated with the part. A method for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part is also provided.

Porous and microporous parts prepared by additive manufacturing as disclosed herein are useful in medical and non-medical applications. The parts are prepared from a composition containing both a solvent soluble component and a solvent insoluble component. After a part is printed by an additive manufacturing process it is exposed to solvent to extract solvent soluble component away front the printed part, resulting in a part having surface cavities.