In one example, a 3D printing system includes a support structure generator to identify a breakaway support to temporarily support part of the object, to design a wedge shaped groove between a portion of the object and the support, the groove ending at a line along which the support intersects the object, and to generate a digital object model that includes the support and the groove. The system also includes a 3D printer to print the object, support and groove based on the object model.

In one example, a 3D printing system includes a support structure generator to identify a breakaway support to temporarily support part of the object, to design a wedge shaped groove between a portion of the object and the support, the groove ending at a line along which the support intersects the object, and to generate a digital object model that includes the support and the groove. The system also includes a 3D printer to print the object, support and groove based on the object model.

The disclosed technology generally relates to packaging a quartz crystal, and more particularly to bonding a quartz crystal using sintering silver paste. In one aspect, a method of packaging a quartz crystal comprises attaching a quartz crystal to a package substrate using one or more silver paste layers comprising silver particles. The method additionally comprises sintering the silver paste in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere and at a sintering temperature sufficient to cause sintering of the silver particles. The sintering is such that the quartz crystal exhibits a positive drift in resonance frequency of the quartz crystal over time. The method further comprises hermetically sealing the quartz crystal in the package substrate.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium-based alloy, wherein the method includes the heat treatment of the preform in a furnace at a predetermined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment, wherein the holder includes a zirconium-based alloy having a zirconium content greater than or equal to 95% by weight, wherein the holder material has a melting temperature higher than the predefined temperature of the heat treatment, and wherein an anti-diffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder in order to prevent welding of the preform to the holder.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium-based alloy, wherein the method includes the heat treatment of the preform in a furnace at a predetermined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment, wherein the holder includes a zirconium-based alloy having a zirconium content greater than or equal to 95% by weight, wherein the holder material has a melting temperature higher than the predefined temperature of the heat treatment, and wherein an anti-diffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder in order to prevent welding of the preform to the holder.

A three-dimensional shaping method includes a molded body forming step of forming a molded body having a plurality of projection portions using a material containing a powder and a binder, a supporting step of supporting the molded body by a support having groove portions at positions configured to insert each of the projection portions in a state where the plurality of projection portions are inserted into the groove portions, and a sintering step of sintering the powder by heating the molded body in a state of being supported by the support, wherein the groove portion is extended from an insertion position of the projection portion in a specified direction that specifies a direction of shrinkage of the molded body by performing the sintering step.

A three-dimensional shaping method includes a molded body forming step of forming a molded body having a plurality of projection portions using a material containing a powder and a binder, a supporting step of supporting the molded body by a support having groove portions at positions configured to insert each of the projection portions in a state where the plurality of projection portions are inserted into the groove portions, and a sintering step of sintering the powder by heating the molded body in a state of being supported by the support, wherein the groove portion is extended from an insertion position of the projection portion in a specified direction that specifies a direction of shrinkage of the molded body by performing the sintering step.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium alloy, includes heat treating the preform in a furnace at a predefined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment. The holder includes a titanium alloy having a mass titanium content no lower than 45%, or a zirconium alloy having a mass zirconium content no lower than 95%, wherein the material making up the holder has a melting temperature higher than the predefined heat treatment temperature, and an antidiffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder to prevent the preform from becoming welded to the holder.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium alloy, includes heat treating the preform in a furnace at a predefined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment. The holder includes a titanium alloy having a mass titanium content no lower than 45%, or a zirconium alloy having a mass zirconium content no lower than 95%, wherein the material making up the holder has a melting temperature higher than the predefined heat treatment temperature, and an antidiffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder to prevent the preform from becoming welded to the holder.

A cemented carbide including an eta phase and a Ni—Al binder is provided. The Ni—Al binder includes intermetallic y′-Ni.sub.3Al-precipitates embedded in a substitutional solid solution matrix of Al and Ni. A weight ratio Al/Ni of between 0.03 to 0.10, wherein a total amount of Ni and Al is between 70 to 95 wt % of the total binder A method of making a cutting tool is also provided.