In an embodiment a 3D printer for additive manufacturing of a multilayer component includes a work surface, at least two movable dispensers configured to coat the work surface with one of at least two different raw materials in each case, wherein at least a part of the respective raw material is addable to the component as a layer in a manufacturing step, and at least two movable recovering devices configured to selectively recover the respective raw material which is not consumed when a layer is added to the component and return the recovered raw material to a respective associated dispenser.

A galactic extrusion manufacturing (GEM) system for performing an extrusion process includes an extruder assembly for extruding building material during the extrusion process, and a connection system including a robotic arm-tether-crimper for attachment of the GEM system to space bound vehicles and/or structures in space or on orbit. The extrusion assembly includes an extruder head outfitted with multiple different heads for shaping the building material during the extrusion process, at least one power cartridge, and at least one building material cartridge containing the building material, wherein the power cartridge and the building material cartridge are removable and replaceable. Also provided are a building material cartridge for use with a GEM system or a dispensing control unit (DCU) to perform an extrusion process, and a smart extrusion system including a building material cartridge and a DCU.

An assembly for rapid manufacturing of symmetrical objects by direct metal deposition is disclosed. A rotary stage provides rotational movement to an object supported by the stage around a central stage axis. Nozzles are spaced above the rotary stage for performing direct metal deposition for building an object supported by the stage. Each nozzle is independently moveable along a horizontal axis and independently pivotable, and combined, moveable along a vertical axis for providing symmetrical movement corresponding to a symmetrical deposition configuration of the object while the object is rotated around the central stage axis.

A build material dispensing device may include a material spreader to spread an amount of build material along a build platform, and at least one hopper for dispensing the build material. The at least one hopper dispenses a plurality of doses of the build material in front of the progression of the material spreader as the material spreader is moved over the build platform.

An example apparatus to produce a three-dimensional object comprises a controller, a build area configured to receive a layer of particulate material, a printhead, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source. The controller is to cause the printhead to deposit a liquid which absorbs ultraviolet radiation onto the layer of particulate material. The controller is further to cause the ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source to irradiate the liquid, after the liquid has been deposited onto the layer of particulate material, thereby to heat the liquid and cause a portion of the particulate material to solidify.

An example apparatus to produce a three-dimensional object comprises a controller, a build area configured to receive a layer of particulate material, a printhead, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source. The controller is to cause the printhead to deposit a liquid which absorbs ultraviolet radiation onto the layer of particulate material. The controller is further to cause the ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source to irradiate the liquid, after the liquid has been deposited onto the layer of particulate material, thereby to heat the liquid and cause a portion of the particulate material to solidify.

A method for forming a multi-material part by selective laser melting includes the following steps. Modeling is performed by regularly distributing and arraying a combination of materials that meets forming requirements such that a part model is designed. The designed part model is subjected to a dimension compensation, a shape compensation, a chamfering setting, a margin design and a design of a process support to obtain a process model. The obtained process model is sliced into a series of layers. Type, distribution and boundary information of materials in each layer are collected to generate a control file. All materials required for part forming are loaded into an additive manufacturing equipment. After a state of the additive manufacturing equipment meets forming requirements, a part is formed under the control of the generated control file. Post-processing is performed after the part is formed.

A three-dimensional molding apparatus is provided and includes a reservoir portion, a nozzle portion, a liquid-sending unit, and a temperature control unit that correspond to each of the two or more different types of materials, a molding stage, a relative movement mechanism for moving the stage and the nozzle portions, and a control computer. By using this apparatus, industrial additive manufacturing with two or more different types of materials can be realized with high precision, and high-definition molded products in which different types of materials are arbitrarily combined can be produced.

A wax layer may be applied to a print bed to promote adhesion and release of a printed part during additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing methods may comprise: depositing a wax layer comprising one or more waxes upon a print bed of an additive manufacturing apparatus, and forming a printed part upon the print bed through layer-by-layer deposition of a printing material. The printed parts may be released from the print bed once printing is complete, but without damaging the print bed.

The present invention is a printing device using multiple inks and a printing method using thereof, and more specifically, relates to a three-dimensional printing method of a printed product with a cross-sectional pattern comprising a step of providing different inks into each partitioned spaces and applying the same pressure condition to the inks retained in the ink-receiving part, thereby extruding the inks into a single extruding port to prepare and print an extruded ink product, using the printing device comprising an ink extruding member comprising an ink-receiving part receiving the multiple inks in each partitioned space, and an ink-extruding part equipped with a single passage in which the multiple inks received in the ink-receiving part are passed together.