An AM apparatus for an AM process is provided. The AM apparatus includes a build chamber with a build plate to support one or more parts built with a powder, during a build operation. The AM apparatus further includes a laser assembly operable to deliver a melting laser beam, to melt and fuse the powder used to build the one or more parts. The AM apparatus further includes a part detachment assembly, separate from the laser assembly and operable for a cutting operation. The part detachment assembly includes one or more laser beam delivery apparatuses, each operable to deliver a cutting laser beam, and a part holder apparatus. During the cutting operation, the part holder apparatus holds the one or more parts, and each of the laser beam delivery apparatus(es) delivers the cutting laser beam, to detach the one or more parts from the build plate within the AM apparatus.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which are stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor may cause the processor to access data for a 3D object to be fabricated. The instructions may also cause the processor to determine an orientation that the 3D object is to have relative to a support structure that is to support the 3D object the 3D object. The support structure may have an configuration and may be removed from the 3D object following a post-print processing of the 3D object. The instructions may further cause the support structure to be fabricated in first layers of build material particles and the 3D object to be fabricated in second layers of build material particles.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which are stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor may cause the processor to access data for a 3D object to be fabricated. The instructions may also cause the processor to determine an orientation that the 3D object is to have relative to a support structure that is to support the 3D object the 3D object. The support structure may have an configuration and may be removed from the 3D object following a post-print processing of the 3D object. The instructions may further cause the support structure to be fabricated in first layers of build material particles and the 3D object to be fabricated in second layers of build material particles.

A system and method are described for post-processing a 3D printed component. For example, support structures for the 3D printed component may be removed during post-processing. In the system and method, a marker is placed on the 3D printed component or on a support structure attached to the 3D printed component. The marker may be printed while the 3D printed component and the support structures are printed by a 3D printer. After printing, the marker may then be sensed to determine one or more cutting paths between the 3D printed component and the support structures. The 3D printed component may then be autonomously separated from the support structures by cutting through the cutting path.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by ejecting a shaping material to a stage and stacking layers according to a path including multiple partial paths is provided. The production method includes a first step of specifying a gap portion occurring inside the three-dimensional shaped article based on first shaping data having data for shaping a first portion that is a part of the three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers having a first thickness and data for shaping a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a direction orthogonal to a stacking direction of the layers with a layer having a second thickness corresponding to a thickness of the first portion, a second step of generating second shaping data from the first shaping data by changing the first shaping data so as to fill up the gap portion when the gap portion is specified, and a third step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped article by ejecting the shaping material according to the second shaping data.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by ejecting a shaping material to a stage and stacking layers according to a path including multiple partial paths is provided. The production method includes a first step of specifying a gap portion occurring inside the three-dimensional shaped article based on first shaping data having data for shaping a first portion that is a part of the three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers having a first thickness and data for shaping a second portion that is adjacent to the first portion in a direction orthogonal to a stacking direction of the layers with a layer having a second thickness corresponding to a thickness of the first portion, a second step of generating second shaping data from the first shaping data by changing the first shaping data so as to fill up the gap portion when the gap portion is specified, and a third step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped article by ejecting the shaping material according to the second shaping data.

According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may generate first print control data that may include instructions to deposit a binding liquid onto selected areas in an upper set of layers of build material particles. The processor may also determine areas in a lower set of layers of build material particles at which a non-binding liquid that does not include the binder to be deposited to define sections of a part enhancement section, the lower set of layers being within a predefined distance below the upper set of layers, in which the areas in the lower set of layers are based on the areas in the upper set of layers of build material particles at which the sections of the part are to be defined. The processor may further generate second print control data corresponding to the determined areas in the lower set of layers.

A manufacturing method for three-dimensional structure has a layer forming step of supplying a flowable composition containing a powder and an organic material to form a unit layer, an organic material removing step of performing a treatment of removing the organic material on the unit layer, and an energy applying step of applying energy to the unit layer after the organic material removing step to form a molten layer or sintered layer, wherein the layer forming step, the organic material removing step, and the energy applying step are repeated with respect to the molten layer or sintered layer in a stacking direction as appropriate.

A manufacturing method for three-dimensional structure has a layer forming step of supplying a flowable composition containing a powder and an organic material to form a unit layer, an organic material removing step of performing a treatment of removing the organic material on the unit layer, and an energy applying step of applying energy to the unit layer after the organic material removing step to form a molten layer or sintered layer, wherein the layer forming step, the organic material removing step, and the energy applying step are repeated with respect to the molten layer or sintered layer in a stacking direction as appropriate.

A manufacturing method for three-dimensional structure has a layer forming step of supplying a flowable composition containing a powder and an organic material to form a unit layer, an organic material removing step of performing a treatment of removing the organic material on the unit layer, and an energy applying step of applying energy to the unit layer after the organic material removing step to form a molten layer or sintered layer, wherein the layer forming step, the organic material removing step, and the energy applying step are repeated with respect to the molten layer or sintered layer in a stacking direction as appropriate.