A 3D printing module to remove un-solidified build material attached to a 3D printed part is disclosed herein. The 3D printing module comprises a platform within a housing to support a 3D printed part, a vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform, a cleaning element to apply a cleaning stream within the housing to clean the 3D printed part, and a controller. The controller is to vibrate the platform, generate a cleaning stream in the housing, and to control at least one of the platform and the cleaning element to apply the cleaning stream to different portions of a 3D printed part on the platform.

A 3D printing module to remove un-solidified build material attached to a 3D printed part is disclosed herein. The 3D printing module comprises a platform within a housing to support a 3D printed part, a vibrating mechanism to vibrate the platform, a cleaning element to apply a cleaning stream within the housing to clean the 3D printed part, and a controller. The controller is to vibrate the platform, generate a cleaning stream in the housing, and to control at least one of the platform and the cleaning element to apply the cleaning stream to different portions of a 3D printed part on the platform.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus has a plurality of thermally insulative members that float in a volume of heat transfer lubricating fluid in which a X-Y translation mechanism moves to position a platform opposite an ejector. The apparatus also includes a housing having an internal volume in which the platform and X-Y translation mechanism are located. The heat transfer lubricating fluid can be a molten salt, such as a molten fluoride, chloride, or nitrate molten salt. The thermally insulative members can be spheres made of zirconium oxide or zirconium dioxide. The thermally insulative layer formed by the members floating in the fluid protects the X-Y mechanism while the housing helps keep the surface temperature of the object being formed on the platform in an optimal range for bonding of melted metal drops ejected from the ejector to a surface of a metal object being formed on the platform.

Raw material devices, systems that incorporate raw material delivery devices, and methods of supplying raw material using the raw material devices. A raw material delivery device includes a hollow body comprising a first end and a second end, the second end disposed above the first end in a system vertical direction, an inlet disposed at the first end of the hollow body, an outlet disposed at the second end of the hollow body, and a stepped passageway disposed within the hollow body between the inlet and the outlet. The stepped passageway is configured to deliver raw material via one or more steps from the inlet to the outlet.

Raw material devices, systems that incorporate raw material delivery devices, and methods of supplying raw material using the raw material devices. A raw material delivery device includes a hollow body comprising a first end and a second end, the second end disposed above the first end in a system vertical direction, an inlet disposed at the first end of the hollow body, an outlet disposed at the second end of the hollow body, and a stepped passageway disposed within the hollow body between the inlet and the outlet. The stepped passageway is configured to deliver raw material via one or more steps from the inlet to the outlet.

A three-dimensional shaping device includes a chamber that has a shaping space; a heating unit configured to heat the shaping space; a base that has a shaping surface exposed to the shaping space; a discharge unit configured to discharge a shaping material toward the shaping surface while moving in a first direction in the shaping space heated by the heating unit and shape a three-dimensional shaped article; a first drive unit configured to move the base in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a tubular first heat resistant member that is disposed between a peripheral part of a first opening formed in a partition wall of the chamber and the base, configured to extend and contract in the second direction in accordance with a movement of the base in the second direction, and defines a separation space separated from the shaping space, in which at least a part of the first drive unit is disposed in the separation space.

A three-dimensional shaping device includes a chamber that has a shaping space; a heating unit configured to heat the shaping space; a base that has a shaping surface exposed to the shaping space; a discharge unit configured to discharge a shaping material toward the shaping surface while moving in a first direction in the shaping space heated by the heating unit and shape a three-dimensional shaped article; a first drive unit configured to move the base in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a tubular first heat resistant member that is disposed between a peripheral part of a first opening formed in a partition wall of the chamber and the base, configured to extend and contract in the second direction in accordance with a movement of the base in the second direction, and defines a separation space separated from the shaping space, in which at least a part of the first drive unit is disposed in the separation space.

A 3D printing module, a build unit and a method are disclosed herein. The 3D printing module comprises a build unit receiving interface to receive a build unit. The build unit comprises a build platform with a build platform drive interface. The 3D printing module further comprises a driving mechanism engageable with the build platform drive interface to controllably move the build platform.

A 3D printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The 3D printing apparatus comprises a build compartment defining a build chamber within which a 3D object is to be generated; and a non-powered platform, moveable within the build chamber, comprising a platform drive interface to engage with an external drive mechanism to cause the platform to move. The 3D printing apparatus further comprises a powder compartment located laterally adjacent to the build compartment, within which build material is to be stored for use in the generation of the 3D object. The 3D printing apparatus also comprises a locking interface to couple the 3D printing apparatus with an external hosting device.

A 3D printing apparatus is disclosed herein. The 3D printing apparatus comprises a build compartment defining a build chamber within which a 3D object is to be generated; and a non-powered platform, moveable within the build chamber, comprising a platform drive interface to engage with an external drive mechanism to cause the platform to move. The 3D printing apparatus further comprises a powder compartment located laterally adjacent to the build compartment, within which build material is to be stored for use in the generation of the 3D object. The 3D printing apparatus also comprises a locking interface to couple the 3D printing apparatus with an external hosting device.