The invention provides a method for manufacturing a 3D item (10), wherein the 3D item (10) comprises an outer layer (210) and a support structure (220) with cavities (230), wherein the outer layer (210) at least partly encloses the support structure (220), and wherein the method comprises: (a) a 3D printing stage comprising 3D printing with fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printable material (201) the outer layer (210) and the support structure (220) and at least partly filling the cavities (230) with a filler material (204); and (b) a post-treatment stage comprising post treating at least part of the outer layer (210) for reducing surface roughness.

In some examples, an additive manufacturing technique for forming a vacuum insulator. For example, a method including forming an article including a first layer, a second layer, and at least one support member extending between the first and second layer by depositing a filament via a filament delivery device, wherein the filament includes a sacrificial binder and a powder, and wherein the first layer, second layer, and at least one support member define an open cavity within the article; removing the binder; and sintering the article to form the vacuum insulator, wherein the vacuum insulator defines a vacuum environment in the cavity.

A method of manufacturing a component for a sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a printer having a platform, a first head that receives a first feed, and a second head that receives a second feed. The method further includes printing a base layer on the platform, with the base layer comprising a substrate material and defining a longitudinal axis. Additionally, the method includes printing a first fiber layer continuously on the base layer, with the first fiber layer defining a first fiber orientation that is disposed at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and printing a second fiber layer continuously on the first fiber layer, the second fiber layer defining a second fiber orientation that is disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The first angle is different from the second angle.

A method of manufacturing a component for a sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a printer having a platform, a first head that receives a first feed, and a second head that receives a second feed. The method further includes printing a base layer on the platform, with the base layer comprising a substrate material and defining a longitudinal axis. Additionally, the method includes printing a first fiber layer continuously on the base layer, with the first fiber layer defining a first fiber orientation that is disposed at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and printing a second fiber layer continuously on the first fiber layer, the second fiber layer defining a second fiber orientation that is disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The first angle is different from the second angle.

Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for removing particulates from the surface of a 3D printed workpiece. Various particular embodiments include a material removal apparatus having: an enclosure having a first inlet and a first outlet; a rotatable platform contained within the enclosure for positioning a 3D printed workpiece having particulate on a surface thereof; a pressurized fluid applicator connected to the first inlet and configured to selectively apply a pressurized fluid to the 3D printed workpiece; a vibration source configured to apply an adjustable vibratory frequency to at least one of the rotatable platform or the 3D printed workpiece; and a material reclamation unit connected to the first outlet configured to collect a material removed from the 3D printed workpiece.

A method of manufacturing a TiAl alloy impeller includes a blank preparation step in which a blank of the TiAl alloy impeller is prepared, wherein the blank has a shaft portion and a plurality of blades, and a thickness of an outer edge of each of the blades of the blank is set so as to be larger than a thickness of an outer edge of a blade of the TiAl alloy impeller, and an additional work step in which an additional work is performed on each of the blades of the blank. In the additional work step, the additional work is performed on a first surface of a portion that includes at least the outer edge of each of the blades or the first surface and a second surface of the portion thereof.

A method of manufacturing a TiAl alloy impeller includes a blank preparation step in which a blank of the TiAl alloy impeller is prepared, wherein the blank has a shaft portion and a plurality of blades, and a thickness of an outer edge of each of the blades of the blank is set so as to be larger than a thickness of an outer edge of a blade of the TiAl alloy impeller, and an additional work step in which an additional work is performed on each of the blades of the blank. In the additional work step, the additional work is performed on a first surface of a portion that includes at least the outer edge of each of the blades or the first surface and a second surface of the portion thereof.

A shaping device, that shapes a three-dimensional object, includes an ink jet head that discharges an ink to become a material of shaping; and an ink supplying unit that supplies a pre-toned ink, which is the ink toned in advance in accordance with a color to be colored on the 3D object, to the ink jet head, where the ink jet head forms at least one part of the 3D object while coloring the one part with the color of the pre-toned ink by discharging the pre-toned ink.

In example implementations, a method is provided. The method includes printing a three-dimensional (3D) object that includes a secondary structure. The secondary structure is removed. A representation of a surface of the 3D object where the secondary structure was removed is captured. The 3D object is authenticated based on the representation of the surface.

A high flow differential cleaning system uses a source of pressurized compressed dry gas to pressurize a holding tank. A component to be cleaned is securely loaded and oriented against a blast plate designed specifically for the desired pressure, flow, and volume. A fast-actuated valve system opens to direct high volumes of pressurized gas from a holding tank through and around the component(s) held within the cleaning chamber for the removal of remnant powder and foreign particles from interior cavities as well as exterior component surfaces.