A multi-material three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided. The provided apparatus includes two or more print stations. Each of the print stations includes a substrate, a transportation device, a dispersion device, a compaction device, a printing device, a fixing device, and a fluidized materials removal device. The apparatus also includes an assembly apparatus in communication with the two or more print stations via the transportation device. The apparatus also includes one or more transfer devices in communication with the assembly apparatus. The apparatus also includes a computing and controlling device configured to control the operations of the two or more print stations, the assembly apparatus and the one or more transfer devices.

A multi-material three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided. The provided apparatus includes two or more print stations. Each of the print stations includes a substrate, a transportation device, a dispersion device, a compaction device, a printing device, a fixing device, and a fluidized materials removal device. The apparatus also includes an assembly apparatus in communication with the two or more print stations via the transportation device. The apparatus also includes one or more transfer devices in communication with the assembly apparatus. The apparatus also includes a computing and controlling device configured to control the operations of the two or more print stations, the assembly apparatus and the one or more transfer devices.

The present disclosure provides a system for aiding in the removal of an article of manufacture from a build plate. The system may include a catch mechanism, namely a catch basket, a support surface to which the catch mechanism is mounted and a net disposed across the catch basket. The support surface may include a spring mechanism. The net may be disposed of at a distance above a bottom portion of the catch basket.

The present disclosure provides a system for aiding in the removal of an article of manufacture from a build plate. The system may include a catch mechanism, namely a catch basket, a support surface to which the catch mechanism is mounted and a net disposed across the catch basket. The support surface may include a spring mechanism. The net may be disposed of at a distance above a bottom portion of the catch basket.

In order to separate excess material from an additively manufactured component, spatially resolved structural data on the component are received. On the basis of the structural data, a process for emptying material from the component is simulated, wherein a sequence of emptying poses of the component is determined. For an associated emptying pose: the component is moved into the associated emptying pose in accordance with the simulated emptying process, movement of material is detected by sensors, as a result of a detection of a decrease in the movement of material, a trigger signal is generated, and a movement of the component into a subsequent emptying pose is initiated by the trigger signal, the trigger signal being considered higher priority than the simulated emptying process.

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.

A 3D printing and assembly system includes a 3D printer having a build volume; a robotic arm configured to access both within the build volume and outside of the printer. The printing and assembly system and a 3D computer hardware system are connected to both the printer and the robotic arm. An assistive object outside of build volume and accessible by robotic arm is identified. A 3D object assembly to be generated by the printer is identified. The assistive object and the object assembly is real-time analyzed, using the computer hardware system, to generate interdependent sequential instructions for the printer and the robotic arm. The already-generated object is positioned within the build volume using the robotic arm with the sequential instructions for the robotic arm. The object assembly is 3D printed by 3D printing around the already-generated object using the sequential instructions for the 3D printer.

The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing system and an additive manufacturing method. The additive manufacturing system includes an operator area, a loading area, and a transportable container unit. The operator area is configured to control the manufacturing system. The loading area is configured for loading the manufacturing system. The operator area is accessible from a first side of the manufacturing system and the loading area is accessible from a second side of the manufacturing system, wherein the first side is different from the second side. The transportable container unit is insertable into the loading area. The transportable container unit includes a powder storage container and a building container. The powder storage container is configured to store powder, and the building container is configured to additively manufacture a workpiece.

A robotic gripper apparatus for an automated additive manufacturing production system (AAMPS) includes a pair of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is moveable in a transverse direction between a first position in which the gripping assembly engages an AAMPS workpiece and a second position in which the gripping assembly is disengaged from the AAMPS workpiece. Each gripping assembly includes a gripping element that defines an interface slot configured to receive the AAMPS workpiece. The interface slot is defined by a pair of transversely extending edges of the gripping element and a longitudinal edge of the gripping element disposed between the pair of transversely extending edges.

An AAMP system includes a plurality of AAMP system stations disposed in an environment and configured to perform one or more AAMP processing routines, and a plurality of robots configured to autonomously travel within the environment, where one or more robots from among the plurality of robots include an auxiliary AAMP processing station configured to perform one or more auxiliary AAMP processing routines. The AAMP system includes a controller configured to select an AAMP system station from among the plurality of AAMP system stations to perform the one or more AAMP processing routines based on AAMP system operation data and select a robot from among the plurality of robots to initiate the one or more AAMP processing routines at the selected AAMP system station based on a digital model of the environment and robot operation data, where the robot operation data includes an auxiliary processing state.