A machine and a method for treating cakes from additive manufacturing processes, wherein the cake contains residual powders and sintered pieces is disclosed. The machine includes a cylindrical vibrating body which is placed in a position above a vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine and is separated from the vibratory finishing or tumbling or vibro-blasting machine by a remotely operable door and the cylindrical vibrating body obtains its vibration from the machine below. The machine includes means for destructuring the cake in order to obtain the separation of the non-sintered powder from the sintered pieces present in the cake and means for recovering the powder resulting from the destructuring of the cake.

The present invention relates to a material system for 3D printing, to a 3D printing process using a lignin-containing component or derivatives thereof or modified lignins, to soluble moldings that are produced by a powder-based additive layer manufacturing process and to the use of the moldings.

An additive manufacturing process which comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing build process to create a build cake. The build cake comprises a build object and non-solidified build material and the build object is built in a build location within the build cake. The build cake is supported on a tray which comprises a mesh having openings therethrough. The tray also includes an object region and a restraining feature to restrain a build object within the object region. The process comprises performing a decake operation in which non-solidified build material from the build cake passes through the openings of the mesh and the object moves into contact with the tray in the object region so that the object is restrained within the object region of the tray by the restraining feature.

An additive manufacturing process which comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing build process to create a build cake. The build cake comprises a build object and non-solidified build material and the build object is built in a build location within the build cake. The build cake is supported on a tray which comprises a mesh having openings therethrough. The tray also includes an object region and a restraining feature to restrain a build object within the object region. The process comprises performing a decake operation in which non-solidified build material from the build cake passes through the openings of the mesh and the object moves into contact with the tray in the object region so that the object is restrained within the object region of the tray by the restraining feature.

An apparatus (100) for additive manufacturing of a part of an article from a first material comprising particles having a first composition is provided. The apparatus (100) comprises a layer providing means (110) for providing a first support layer from a second material comprising particles having a second composition, wherein the first composition and the second composition are different. The apparatus (100) comprises a concavity defining means (120) for defining a first concavity in an exposed surface of the first support layer. The apparatus (100) comprises a depositing means (130) for depositing a part of the first material in the first concavity defined in the first support layer. The apparatus (100) comprises a levelling means (140) for selectively levelling the deposited first material in the first concavity. The apparatus (100) comprises a first fusing means (150) for fusing some of the particles of the levelled first material in the first concavity by at least partially melting said particles, thereby forming a first part of the layer of the article. In this way, the second material may be thus used to provide a support structure during additive manufacturing of the part of the article.

An apparatus (100) for additive manufacturing of a part of an article from a first material comprising particles having a first composition is provided. The apparatus (100) comprises a layer providing means (110) for providing a first support layer from a second material comprising particles having a second composition, wherein the first composition and the second composition are different. The apparatus (100) comprises a concavity defining means (120) for defining a first concavity in an exposed surface of the first support layer. The apparatus (100) comprises a depositing means (130) for depositing a part of the first material in the first concavity defined in the first support layer. The apparatus (100) comprises a levelling means (140) for selectively levelling the deposited first material in the first concavity. The apparatus (100) comprises a first fusing means (150) for fusing some of the particles of the levelled first material in the first concavity by at least partially melting said particles, thereby forming a first part of the layer of the article. In this way, the second material may be thus used to provide a support structure during additive manufacturing of the part of the article.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

An additive manufacturing obstacle part can comprise a base structure comprising at least one external obstacle, and at least one internal obstacle that is formed at least partially within the base structure. The at least one internal obstacle can comprise an elongated internal obstacle extending through the base structure between an inlet and an outlet formed in the base structure. The elongated internal obstacle can comprise at least one wall extending along a nonlinear path. The non-linear path can hinder travel of excess material from an additive manufacturing process along a linear path between the inlet and outlet. This can help a designer to assess an additive manufacturers ability to cleanly produce an internal feature to specifications while removing excess material resulting from the additive manufacturing process.

An apparatus and method for removing support material from and/or smoothing surfaces of an additively manufactured part is disclosed. The apparatus may include a chamber, a support surface within the chamber, one or more nozzles within the chamber, a tank positioned below the nozzles, and a vision system. The vision system includes one or more cameras and other imagery obtaining sensors located in the chamber. The cameras and sensors obtain imagery of the additively manufactured part as it is being sprayed to finish the part. The imagery is displayed on a display panel located outside the apparatus or stored for later playback.