An ejector for jetting modified metal is disclosed. The ejector for jetting modified metal also includes a nozzle orifice in connection with the inner cavity and configured to eject one or more droplets of liquid metal. The ejector for jetting modified metal includes a first gas source associated with the inner cavity and an external portion of the nozzle. The ejector for jetting modified metal also includes a second gas source coupled to the first gas source and in proximity to an external portion of the nozzle orifice.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a movable directed energy source to melt hardened metal drops and form an oxidation layer. A metal support structure can be formed over the oxidation layer, an object feature can be formed over the oxidation layer, or both a metal support structure and an object feature can be formed over oxidation layers located at opposite sides of a metal support structure. The oxidation layers weakly attach the metal support structure to the object feature supported by the metal support structure so the support structure can be easily removed after manufacture of the object is complete.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a movable directed energy source to melt hardened metal drops and form an oxidation layer. A metal support structure can be formed over the oxidation layer, an object feature can be formed over the oxidation layer, or both a metal support structure and an object feature can be formed over oxidation layers located at opposite sides of a metal support structure. The oxidation layers weakly attach the metal support structure to the object feature supported by the metal support structure so the support structure can be easily removed after manufacture of the object is complete.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object. The method for manufacturing the three-dimensional shaped object includes: a first step of receiving designation of a shaping mode of the three-dimensional shaped object; a second step of shaping, based on shaping data for shaping the three-dimensional shaped object, the three-dimensional shaped object by discharging a shaping material from a nozzle; and a third step of controlling cleaning of the nozzle in accordance with the shaping mode received in the first step.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object. The method for manufacturing the three-dimensional shaped object includes: a first step of receiving designation of a shaping mode of the three-dimensional shaped object; a second step of shaping, based on shaping data for shaping the three-dimensional shaped object, the three-dimensional shaped object by discharging a shaping material from a nozzle; and a third step of controlling cleaning of the nozzle in accordance with the shaping mode received in the first step.

Methods and apparatuses for identifying an additive manufacturing process for unused output material of an atomization process are described. The method comprises determining a set of characteristics of output material that is unused in a first additive manufacturing process. The method further comprises determining a respective set of parameters associated with respective input material of each of a set of other additive manufacturing processes. The method of further comprises identifying one of the set of other additive manufacturing processes that accepts the output material as input material based on the characteristics of the output material and based on respective sets of parameters.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a stacking step of stacking a layer by discharging a shaping material from a nozzle while moving the nozzle with respect to a stage in accordance with shaping data with which a three-dimensional shaped object is shaped, the shaping data including path information indicating a movement path of the nozzle with respect to the stage and discharge amount information indicating a discharge amount of the shaping material in the movement path; and a data changing step of adding a cleaning command for cleaning the nozzle to the shaping data based on information included in the shaping data.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a stacking step of stacking a layer by discharging a shaping material from a nozzle while moving the nozzle with respect to a stage in accordance with shaping data with which a three-dimensional shaped object is shaped, the shaping data including path information indicating a movement path of the nozzle with respect to the stage and discharge amount information indicating a discharge amount of the shaping material in the movement path; and a data changing step of adding a cleaning command for cleaning the nozzle to the shaping data based on information included in the shaping data.

A slicer in a material drop ejecting three-dimensional (3D) object printer identifies the positions and local densities for a plurality of infill lines within a perimeter to be formed within a layer of an object to be formed by the printer. The local density of each infill line is filtered and a control law is applied to the filtered local density to identify an error in the local density compared to a target density. This process is performed iteratively until the error is within a predetermined tolerance range about the target local density. The error is used to generate machine ready instructions to operate the 3D object printer to achieve the target density for the infill lines.

A metal ejecting apparatus is disclosed. The metal ejecting apparatus includes a nozzle orifice in connection with the inner cavity and configured to eject one or more droplets of the liquid metal printing material, a float in contact with a surface of the liquid metal printing material, where the float is buoyant within the liquid printing material, and a filament attached to the float on a first end and attached to a level sensing system on a second end. The level sensing system may include an ultrasonic sensor, a visual sensor, a mechanical force sensor, a laser sensor, or a combination thereof. A method of sensing and controlling a level of liquid printing material in a metal jetting apparatus is also disclosed.