A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a cleaning system. The cleaning system includes a gas source configured to introduce a gas at least partially into the nozzle. The cleaning system also includes a cleaning tool configured to remove solidified metallic dross from within the nozzle.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an orifice cleaning system that removes metal drops that have adhered to a plate, an orifice in the plate, and a nozzle ejecting melted metal drops through the orifice during object forming operations. The orifice cleaning system includes an orifice cleaning tool that consists essentially of a soft carbon material, such as graphite. The orifice cleaning tool is configured with a handle that is gripped by an articulated arm to move the orifice cleaning tool against the plate, the orifice, and a portion of the nozzle at the orifice.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an orifice cleaning system that removes metal drops that have adhered to a plate, an orifice in the plate, and a nozzle ejecting melted metal drops through the orifice during object forming operations. The orifice cleaning system includes an orifice cleaning tool that consists essentially of a soft carbon material, such as graphite. The orifice cleaning tool is configured with a handle that is gripped by an articulated arm to move the orifice cleaning tool against the plate, the orifice, and a portion of the nozzle at the orifice.

A device may obtain measurement data concerning a three-dimensional (3D) printed object, where the 3D printed object has a plurality of physical elements that comprise a plurality of different physical attributes, and where the plurality of physical elements and the plurality of different physical attributes are designed to exhibit one or more printing capabilities of a 3D printer that printed the 3D printed object. The device may process the measurement data to determine one or more printing anomalies relating to one or more physical elements, of the plurality of physical elements, and one or more physical attributes of the plurality of different physical attributes. The device may generate a set of instructions to permit the 3D printer to be adjusted to address the one or more printing anomalies, and may cause an action to be performed based on generating the set of instructions.

A device may obtain measurement data concerning a three-dimensional (3D) printed object, where the 3D printed object has a plurality of physical elements that comprise a plurality of different physical attributes, and where the plurality of physical elements and the plurality of different physical attributes are designed to exhibit one or more printing capabilities of a 3D printer that printed the 3D printed object. The device may process the measurement data to determine one or more printing anomalies relating to one or more physical elements, of the plurality of physical elements, and one or more physical attributes of the plurality of different physical attributes. The device may generate a set of instructions to permit the 3D printer to be adjusted to address the one or more printing anomalies, and may cause an action to be performed based on generating the set of instructions.

An additive manufacturing system configured to additively build an article can include an energy applicator, a build platform, and a powder nozzle configured to eject powder toward the build platform to be acted on by the energy applicator. The system can include a control module configured to control the energy applicator to create an amorphous structure forming at least a portion of the article.

An additive manufacturing system configured to additively build an article can include an energy applicator, a build platform, and a powder nozzle configured to eject powder toward the build platform to be acted on by the energy applicator. The system can include a control module configured to control the energy applicator to create an amorphous structure forming at least a portion of the article.

To provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object in which a three-dimensional shaped object is manufactured by discharging a shaping material from a discharge unit toward a stage to stack a layer, the method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a first step of generating path data having a plurality of partial paths through which the discharge unit moves while discharging the shaping material; a second step of determining a line width of the shaping material in each of the partial paths and generating line width information for implementing the line width; a third step of generating shaping data including the path data and the line width information; and a fourth step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped object according to the shaping data. In the second step, the line width in a target path that is one of the partial paths is determined in accordance with a distance between a first wall and a second wall separated by the target path. The first wall and the second wall are side edges of the shaping material discharged in the partial path generated before the target path or a contour line of the three-dimensional shaped object.

To provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object in which a three-dimensional shaped object is manufactured by discharging a shaping material from a discharge unit toward a stage to stack a layer, the method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object includes: a first step of generating path data having a plurality of partial paths through which the discharge unit moves while discharging the shaping material; a second step of determining a line width of the shaping material in each of the partial paths and generating line width information for implementing the line width; a third step of generating shaping data including the path data and the line width information; and a fourth step of shaping the three-dimensional shaped object according to the shaping data. In the second step, the line width in a target path that is one of the partial paths is determined in accordance with a distance between a first wall and a second wall separated by the target path. The first wall and the second wall are side edges of the shaping material discharged in the partial path generated before the target path or a contour line of the three-dimensional shaped object.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that includes a drive motor, a heater, and a screw rotated by the drive motor and that plasticizes a material to form a shaping material, an ejection section that ejects the shaping material toward a stage, a moving mechanism section that changes a relative position of the ejection section to the stage, a prediction section that predicts a residual service life of the heater from an observation result of a state observation section that observes a state of the heater, and a control unit that controls the plasticizing section and the moving mechanism section to shape a three-dimensional shaped article. The control unit has a first mode in which a temperature of the heater is set to a first temperature and a second mode in which the temperature of the heater is set to a temperature lower than the first temperature, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the first mode when a first residual service life when the temperature of the heater is set to the first temperature exceeds a first value, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the second mode when the first residual service life is equal to or less than the first value.