An apparatus, system and method for additive manufacturing. The apparatus, system and method may include a solution dispenser comprising a carrier having embedded therein particles having a size of about 1-5 microns; a jet suitable to disperse the solution from the dispenser; and a tunable heat filter suitable to burn off the carrier, and make molten the particles, as the solution passes therethrough; wherein an additive manufacturing print build receives the molten particles.

A system and method for providing three-dimensional printing is disclosed. The three-dimensional printing technology includes enhanced functionality to provide better resolution printing, filtration of forming materials stored within a reservoir tank, and a simple and efficient cleaning process to remove debris from the reservoir subsequent to a printing cycle.

A system and method for providing three-dimensional printing is disclosed. The three-dimensional printing technology includes enhanced functionality to provide better resolution printing, filtration of forming materials stored within a reservoir tank, and a simple and efficient cleaning process to remove debris from the reservoir subsequent to a printing cycle.

In one example, a fusing system for an additive manufacturing machine includes a first carriage carrying a layering device and a fusing lamp, and a second carriage carrying a fusing agent dispenser. The first carriage and the second carriage are movable back and forth over the work area along the same line of motion so that the first carriage follows the second carriage in one direction and the second carriage follows the first carriage in the other direction.

In one example, a fusing system for an additive manufacturing machine includes a first carriage carrying a layering device and a fusing lamp, and a second carriage carrying a fusing agent dispenser. The first carriage and the second carriage are movable back and forth over the work area along the same line of motion so that the first carriage follows the second carriage in one direction and the second carriage follows the first carriage in the other direction.

A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area. A powder spreading method is disclosed that operates an impeller to start depositing powder from a hopper into a print area located within a build box as a gantry moves the hopper in a first direction across the print area; operating a spreader rod to smooth out the powder on the print area as the gantry moves the hopper and the spreader rod across the print area in the first direction; and upon the gantry reaching a predetermined position in the print area, stopping the impeller to stop depositing the powder while continuing to operate the spreader rod.

A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area. A powder spreading method is disclosed that operates an impeller to start depositing powder from a hopper into a print area located within a build box as a gantry moves the hopper in a first direction across the print area; operating a spreader rod to smooth out the powder on the print area as the gantry moves the hopper and the spreader rod across the print area in the first direction; and upon the gantry reaching a predetermined position in the print area, stopping the impeller to stop depositing the powder while continuing to operate the spreader rod.

Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects formed by irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material. The apparatus may include at least one build plane; at least one build material application device being adapted to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane, the at least one build material application device comprising at least one build material application element being moveably supported in a first motion path in which the at least one build material application element is moveable or moved across the at least one build plane, wherein the at least one build material application element is transferrable in a first orientation in which the at least one build material application element is operable to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane and in a second orientation in which the at least one build material application element is not operable to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane.

Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects formed by irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material. The apparatus may include at least one build plane; at least one build material application device being adapted to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane, the at least one build material application device comprising at least one build material application element being moveably supported in a first motion path in which the at least one build material application element is moveable or moved across the at least one build plane, wherein the at least one build material application element is transferrable in a first orientation in which the at least one build material application element is operable to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane and in a second orientation in which the at least one build material application element is not operable to apply an amount of build material in the at least one build plane.

Some examples include an additive manufacturing build object including an electrical component and a build object body. The electrical component having a varying electrical resistivity within a resistivity range of 109 ohms per square to 105 ohms per square, the resistivity range obtained by an application and fusing of a fusing component of a printing agent and build material, the printing agent applied to the build material at a predetermined saturation dosage range corresponding to the resistivity range. The build object body having a second electrical resistivity obtained by an application and fusing of the fusing component of the printing agent and the build material, the printing agent applied at a dosage below the predetermined saturation dosage range, the build object body being electrically non-conductive.