The disclosed invention resolves the problem of manufacturing three-dimensional objects by stacking two-dimensional layers of material in the third direction z. Described are a machine and a method for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects in which a predetermined final object is fabricated using the steps of the printing process (100) of individual curved three-dimensional print volumes (1, 2, 3 . . . Z) in a sequence (51). Powdered material (102) is melted in a melting volume (280) which is inside an intersection volume (28) and in which the energy exerted by at least two particle clusters (160,170) emitted from at least two spatially positioned sources (11, 12) of particles with mass adds up and exceeds the threshold required for melting of the powdered material. Machine and method according to the disclosed invention enable the fabrication in multiple different printing directions simultaneously.

The disclosed invention resolves the problem of manufacturing three-dimensional objects by stacking two-dimensional layers of material in the third direction z. Described are a machine and a method for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects in which a predetermined final object is fabricated using the steps of the printing process (100) of individual curved three-dimensional print volumes (1, 2, 3 . . . Z) in a sequence (51). Powdered material (102) is melted in a melting volume (280) which is inside an intersection volume (28) and in which the energy exerted by at least two particle clusters (160,170) emitted from at least two spatially positioned sources (11, 12) of particles with mass adds up and exceeds the threshold required for melting of the powdered material. Machine and method according to the disclosed invention enable the fabrication in multiple different printing directions simultaneously.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.

A lamination molding apparatus capable of stably supplying material powder on a molding table. Provided is a lamination molding apparatus including a chamber, a recoater head, and a recoater head driving mechanism. The chamber covers a molding region. The recoater head comprises a material case and is configured to be moved so as to form a material powder layer. The material case includes a case outlet for discharging the material powder and a pair of inclined side surfaces arranged with the case outlet interposed therebetween. The inclined side surfaces are inclined toward the case outlet so that inclination angles between a horizontal plane and the inclined side surfaces are different from each other. The recoater head driving mechanism includes a motor and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to vibrate the recoater head to facilitate discharge of the material powder.

A lamination molding apparatus capable of stably supplying material powder on a molding table. Provided is a lamination molding apparatus including a chamber, a recoater head, and a recoater head driving mechanism. The chamber covers a molding region. The recoater head comprises a material case and is configured to be moved so as to form a material powder layer. The material case includes a case outlet for discharging the material powder and a pair of inclined side surfaces arranged with the case outlet interposed therebetween. The inclined side surfaces are inclined toward the case outlet so that inclination angles between a horizontal plane and the inclined side surfaces are different from each other. The recoater head driving mechanism includes a motor and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to vibrate the recoater head to facilitate discharge of the material powder.

Techniques are described for consistently moving powder from a hopper into a trough for subsequent delivery into a build area of an additive fabrication system. A powder delivery apparatus may comprise a hopper, a trough, and a doser. The doser may be configured to rotate about an axis and may include a recess that, when the doser is rotated about the axis, travels into and out of the hopper and into and out of the trough. As a result, when powder is present in the hopper, the recess may carry powder from the hopper to the trough when the doser rotates. The trough and doser may be configured so that when the trough contains the desired amount of powder for recoating, the doser does not transfer additional material from the hopper into the trough. As a result, the amount of powder in the trough may be self-regulating.

Techniques are described for consistently moving powder from a hopper into a trough for subsequent delivery into a build area of an additive fabrication system. A powder delivery apparatus may comprise a hopper, a trough, and a doser. The doser may be configured to rotate about an axis and may include a recess that, when the doser is rotated about the axis, travels into and out of the hopper and into and out of the trough. As a result, when powder is present in the hopper, the recess may carry powder from the hopper to the trough when the doser rotates. The trough and doser may be configured so that when the trough contains the desired amount of powder for recoating, the doser does not transfer additional material from the hopper into the trough. As a result, the amount of powder in the trough may be self-regulating.

An additive manufacturing device (AMD) for manufacturing objects through deposition of superposed layers of material in a granulate or powder form, the AMD comprising: a hydraulic cylinder; a mold for sealable attachment to the hydraulic cylinder; a material deposition station having an outlet for depositing the material in the mold layer-by-layer; a heating element; and a compressor. Between the deposition of one or more layers of material in the mold, the mold and the hydraulic cylinder are sealably attached to form a pressure container, the compressor injects gas in the container to increase a pressure within the pressure container and the heating element provides heat within the pressure container to further increase the pressure and to perform sintering or high-temperature synthesis of the material while submitting the material to the pressure.

An additive manufacturing device (AMD) for manufacturing objects through deposition of superposed layers of material in a granulate or powder form, the AMD comprising: a hydraulic cylinder; a mold for sealable attachment to the hydraulic cylinder; a material deposition station having an outlet for depositing the material in the mold layer-by-layer; a heating element; and a compressor. Between the deposition of one or more layers of material in the mold, the mold and the hydraulic cylinder are sealably attached to form a pressure container, the compressor injects gas in the container to increase a pressure within the pressure container and the heating element provides heat within the pressure container to further increase the pressure and to perform sintering or high-temperature synthesis of the material while submitting the material to the pressure.