An additive manufacturing system for producing a three-dimensional article includes a print engine, a post-fabrication powder removal apparatus, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The post fabrication removal apparatus includes a rotary frame defining an internal receptacle cavity, a plurality of clamps coupled to a corresponding plurality of actuators, a clamping plate coupled to a lift apparatus, and an agitation device mounted to the clamping plate. The controller is configured to perform the following steps: (1) Operate the transport mechanism to transport the build box to the internal receptacle cavity. (2) Operate the plurality of actuators to engage the build box with the plurality of clamps to secure the build box to the rotary frame. (3) Operate the rotary frame to rotate the build box until unfused powder begins to exit the build box. (4) Operate the agitation device to facilitate pouring of the unfused powder from the build box.

The present disclosure various apparatuses, and systems for 3D printing. The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, software and systems for a step and repeat energy irradiation process; controlling material characteristics and/or deformation of the 3D object; reducing deformation in a printed 3D object; and planarizing a material bed.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) for fabricating multi-walled structures. A multi-walled structure includes a first wall having a first surface and a second wall having a second surface facing the first surface to define a passage having a width between the first surface and the second surface in a first direction. The multi-walled structure also includes an enlarged powder removal feature connecting the first wall and the second wall. The enlarged powder removal feature has an inner dimension greater than the width in the first direction and at least one open end in a direction transverse to the first width.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for treating a printed model. The methods may include placing at least a portion of the printed model into a heat treatment medium. The methods may further include performing a heat treatment on the printed model based at least in part on the heat treatment medium. The heat treatment medium may provide a constraint force to prevent a deformation of the printed model during the heat treatment. And the methods may also include obtaining a printed object based at least in part on the heat treatment performed on the printed model.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system is described. The system includes a reader to extract cleaning instructions associated with a three-dimensional (3D) printed object. The cleaning instructions include a termination condition to indicate when object cleaning is complete. The system also includes a controller to instruct at least one cleaning device to clean the 3D printed object based on the cleaning instructions. A measurement system of the system determines when the termination condition is met.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system is described. The system includes a reader to extract cleaning instructions associated with a three-dimensional (3D) printed object. The cleaning instructions include a termination condition to indicate when object cleaning is complete. The system also includes a controller to instruct at least one cleaning device to clean the 3D printed object based on the cleaning instructions. A measurement system of the system determines when the termination condition is met.

A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method comprises receiving object data relating to a three-dimensional object generated or to be generated using an additive manufacturing apparatus, the object data including details of an aperture in a surface of the three-dimensional object; determining, based on the object data, design data for a jig to engage the object and to form a fluid communication channel between the aperture in the surface of the three-dimensional object and an interface of an airflow control mechanism, the airflow control mechanism to cause a flow of air through the aperture; and providing the design data for delivery to an additive manufacturing apparatus to generate the jig. A jig is also disclosed.

A computer-implemented method is disclosed. The method comprises receiving object data relating to a three-dimensional object generated or to be generated using an additive manufacturing apparatus, the object data including details of an aperture in a surface of the three-dimensional object; determining, based on the object data, design data for a jig to engage the object and to form a fluid communication channel between the aperture in the surface of the three-dimensional object and an interface of an airflow control mechanism, the airflow control mechanism to cause a flow of air through the aperture; and providing the design data for delivery to an additive manufacturing apparatus to generate the jig. A jig is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a workpiece produced by means of additive production from a granular and/or powdery production material and/or for removing excess granular and/or powdery production material after additive workpiece production. The device comprises a housing in which a workpiece mounting is arranged on which or on which the produced workpiece can be arranged. In or on the housing at least one conveyor is arranged to convey, in particular, excess production material, away from the housing interior. At least one movable nozzle is arranged on at least one movable nozzle arm in the housing interior, such that the workpiece and the housing interior can be acted upon by at least one flow of the cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle in which the workpiece and/or housing interior are purged of, in particular, excess production material. At least one nozzle rotation is provided, in which the nozzle can be rotated about at least one nozzle rotation axis relative to the nozzle arm. At least one arm trajectory movement and/or at least one arm rotation is provided, in which the nozzle arm can be moved and/or rotated relative to the workpiece mounting along at least one arm trajectory and/or about at least one arm rotation axis. The rotational speed of the nozzle rotation and the speed of the arm movement and/or the arm rotation are constituted such that during a cleaning cycle the flow of the cleaning fluid assumes all, or almost all, flow directions within the housing interior, such that the whole surface, or almost the whole surface, of the workpiece and of the housing interior, can be exposed to the cleaning flow from all, or almost all, directions.

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a workpiece produced by means of additive production from a granular and/or powdery production material and/or for removing excess granular and/or powdery production material after additive workpiece production. The device comprises a housing in which a workpiece mounting is arranged on which or on which the produced workpiece can be arranged. In or on the housing at least one conveyor is arranged to convey, in particular, excess production material, away from the housing interior. At least one movable nozzle is arranged on at least one movable nozzle arm in the housing interior, such that the workpiece and the housing interior can be acted upon by at least one flow of the cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle in which the workpiece and/or housing interior are purged of, in particular, excess production material. At least one nozzle rotation is provided, in which the nozzle can be rotated about at least one nozzle rotation axis relative to the nozzle arm. At least one arm trajectory movement and/or at least one arm rotation is provided, in which the nozzle arm can be moved and/or rotated relative to the workpiece mounting along at least one arm trajectory and/or about at least one arm rotation axis. The rotational speed of the nozzle rotation and the speed of the arm movement and/or the arm rotation are constituted such that during a cleaning cycle the flow of the cleaning fluid assumes all, or almost all, flow directions within the housing interior, such that the whole surface, or almost the whole surface, of the workpiece and of the housing interior, can be exposed to the cleaning flow from all, or almost all, directions.