A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.

A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.

A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.

A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.

A method of binder jetting additive manufacturing for veneer applications may include, but is not limited to, loading a mixture of material into one or more feed boxes of a binder jetting additive manufacturing device, depositing a layer of the mixture of material into a working chamber of the binder jetting additive manufacturing device, applying a coating to the layer of the mixture of material, and curing the coating applied to the layer of the mixture of material to form a portion of a veneer product, actuating a working surface of the working chamber, depositing an additional layer of the mixture of material into the working chamber, applying an additional coating to the additional layer of the mixture of material, and curing the additional coating applied to the additional layer of the mixture of material to form an additional portion of the veneer product.

A method of binder jetting additive manufacturing for veneer applications may include, but is not limited to, loading a mixture of material into one or more feed boxes of a binder jetting additive manufacturing device, depositing a layer of the mixture of material into a working chamber of the binder jetting additive manufacturing device, applying a coating to the layer of the mixture of material, and curing the coating applied to the layer of the mixture of material to form a portion of a veneer product, actuating a working surface of the working chamber, depositing an additional layer of the mixture of material into the working chamber, applying an additional coating to the additional layer of the mixture of material, and curing the additional coating applied to the additional layer of the mixture of material to form an additional portion of the veneer product.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate and a stage configured to hold a component formed of one or more cured layers of a resin. An actuator assembly is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative the support plate. A radiant energy device is positioned opposite to the stage such that it is operable to generate and project radiant energy in a pattern. A peeling device is positioned downstream of the window. The actuator assembly is configured to move the stage simultaneously with a resin support over the peeling device in an X-axis direction.

A method of fabricating a shaped object includes: preparing a formation sheet including a base and a thermally expansive layer stacked on a first main surface of the base, the thermally expansive layer including a binder and thermally expandable material; heating the base of the formation sheet to a temperature lower than an expansion initiation temperature at which the thermally expandable material starts to expand; and heating the thermally expansive layer of the formation sheet after heating of the base, to a temperature higher than or equal to the expansion initiation temperature at which the thermally expandable material starts to expand, thereby causing expansion of the thermally expansive layer.

An apparatus and method to magnetically align fibers in a base additive material during an additive manufacturing process for material property enhancing purposes or to facilitate joining of multiple types of materials during the additive process to form an integrated part. The magnetically alignable fibers are positioned through the application of a controlled, multi-axis positioning magnetic field during the additive-material layer deposition phase. This allows the fibers to be embedded within the base additive-material in any three-dimensional desired orientation, and the orientation to be varied from layer to layer, to permit directional enhancement of material properties, dependent on the nature of the fiber materials themselves. Likewise, joining of multiple types of materials may be improved through the controlled deposition of such fibers embedded within the base material itself during the additive-process between layers of two or more dissimilar materials, to provide a directionally aligned mechanical attachment between layers of base additive materials to result in a strengthened consolidated part at the conclusion of the additive manufacturing process.