A system for forming a product with different size particles is disclosed. The system comprises at least one print head region configured to retain a first group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a first portion of the product with a first material and a second group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a second portion of the product with a second material. The described system may also comprise a processor configured to regulate the first group of print heads and the second group of print heads to distribute the first material and the second material. A method of making an object by ink jet printing using the disclosed system is also disclosed.

A unidirectional or bidirectional sand dispensing device, including a discharge port (10), the discharge port includes a lower plate (11) and an upper plate (12), the upper plate is provided above the lower plate, an included angle between a horizontal plane and a straight line where an endpoint of a free end of the upper plate and an endpoint of a free end of the lower plate are located is a leakage angle (13), that is to say, a particulate material forms an inclined plane between the upper plate and the lower plate, and an included angle between the inclined plane and the horizontal plane is the leakage angle, which can be adjusted by changing relative positions of the upper plate and the lower plate. The direction of an opening of the sand passing passage is opposite to a moving direction during the sand dispensing operation. When the sand dispensing operation is stopped, the leakage angle is less than or equal to the static repose angle of the particulate material, and is greater than or equal to zero, which ensures that the particulate material will not slide down, and the phenomenon of sand leakage is eliminated. When the sand dispensing operation is being carried out, the leakage angle is greater than or equal to the dynamic repose angle of the particulate material, which ensures that the particulate material will slide down along the inclined plane and that the sand is dispensed relatively uniformly.

An array-spraying additive manufacturing apparatus and method for manufacturing a large-sized equiaxed crystal aluminum alloy ingot, comprising: a liquid aluminum spraying mechanism having array nozzles disposed in an atmospheric pressure chamber, a movable condensing mechanism disposed in the atmospheric pressure chamber below the liquid aluminum spraying mechanism, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism sends an upward guiding command to a release mechanism and issues a three-dimensional movement command to the movable condensing mechanism, such that liquid aluminum in the liquid aluminum spraying mechanism is sprayed at the surface of the movable condensing mechanism in a continuous array of liquid flows according to a preset path and is rapidly condensed to form an ingot. Also disclosed is an additive manufacturing method employing the apparatus.

A three-dimensional modeling device includes a table supporting a powder material and a model created from the powder material, a processing section disposed so as to face the table and obtaining the model by processing the powder material, and a rotation unit causing the table to rotate relative to the processing section around a rotary axis. The processing section has a plurality of processing units disposed around the rotary axis. The processing units supply the powder material to the table, preheat the supplied powder material, and emit an energy beam to the preheated powder material.

Various methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a radiation shielding component of an imaging apparatus. In one embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be manufactured by infiltrating metal particles with a binder solution and then curing the binder solution impregnated with the metal particles. In another embodiment, the radiation shielding component may be printed with metal powder, infiltrated with a binding agent, and then cured to polymerize the binding agent.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, a dispenser configured to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material onto the platform, at least one light source configured to generate a first light beam and a second light beam, a polygon mirror scanner, an actuator, and a galvo mirror scanner. The polygon mirror scanner is configured to receive the first light beam and reflect the first light beam towards the platform. Rotation of the first polygon mirror causes the light beam to move in a first direction along a path on a layer of feed material on the platform. The actuator is configured to cause the path to move along a second direction at a non-zero angle relative to the first direction. The galvo mirror scanner system is configured to receive the second light beam and reflect the second light beam toward the platform.

A dispensing system for an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a frame, a powder reservoir, an agitator and an array of dispensing units positioned below the powder reservoir. The powder reservoir has a first width along a primary axis, and includes a lower portion and an upper portion that is wider than the lower portion along a second axis perpendicular to the primary axis. The agitator is positioned in the upper portion of the powder reservoir. Each dispensing unit includes a nozzle block that has a passage therethrough that defines a nozzle and provides a respective path for the powder to flow from the powder reservoir to the nozzle, and a valve positioned in the passage in the nozzle block to controllably release powder through the nozzle.

A dispensing system for an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a frame, a powder reservoir, an agitator and an array of dispensing units positioned below the powder reservoir. The powder reservoir has a first width along a primary axis, and includes a lower portion and an upper portion that is wider than the lower portion along a second axis perpendicular to the primary axis. The agitator is positioned in the upper portion of the powder reservoir. Each dispensing unit includes a nozzle block that has a passage therethrough that defines a nozzle and provides a respective path for the powder to flow from the powder reservoir to the nozzle, and a valve positioned in the passage in the nozzle block to controllably release powder through the nozzle.

Systems and methods of additively manufacturing passive electronic components are provided. An additive manufacturing device may deposit a material to create a passive electronic component. A sensor may continuously measure an electrical property of the passive electronic component across two electrical contacts as the material is deposited during manufacturing. The sensor may transmit the measured electrical property to a processor whereby the processor may adjust a material deposition rate of the additive manufacturing device. The continuous measurement of the electrical property and adjustment of the material deposition rate as the passive electronic component is produced allows for passive electronic components to be manufactured to a high degree of accuracy of the electrical property.

The present disclosure relates to custom additively manufactured core structures and the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, a panel for use in a transport structure includes first and second face sheets, and an additively manufactured (AM) core affixed between the first and second face sheets. The AM core is foldable such that at least one portion of the AM core is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing a panel for use in a transport structure includes additively manufacturing a core is disclosed.