A method may include fused filament fabricating a fused filament fabricated component by delivering a softened filament to selected locations at or adjacent to a build surface. The softened filament may include a sacrificial binder and a powder including a shape memory alloy (SMA). The method also may include removing substantially all the sacrificial binder from the fused filament fabricated component to leave an unsintered component; and sintering the unsintered component to join particles of the SMA and form an SMA component.

A method may include fused filament fabricating a fused filament fabricated component by delivering a softened filament to selected locations at or adjacent to a build surface. The softened filament may include a sacrificial binder and a powder including a shape memory alloy (SMA). The method also may include removing substantially all the sacrificial binder from the fused filament fabricated component to leave an unsintered component; and sintering the unsintered component to join particles of the SMA and form an SMA component.

Described herein are additive manufacturing systems and methods for printing 3D objects.

Described herein are additive manufacturing systems and methods for printing 3D objects.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

Various implementations include a three-dimensional printing device. The device includes a primary extruder, a secondary extruder, and a build plate. The primary extruder has a hollow primary body for accepting a printing material. An end of the primary body defines a primary extruder opening shaped to extrude a primary extrusion of melted printing material. The secondary extruder has a hollow secondary body for accepting a printing material. An end of the secondary body defines a secondary extruder opening shaped to extrude a secondary extrusion of melted printing material. A first primary extrusion extruded from the primary extruder disposed side by side with a second primary extrusion extruded from the primary extruder adjacent the build plate in a first layer defines a gap between adjacent edges of the first and second primary extrusions. A first secondary extrusion extruded from the secondary extruder is disposable in a second layer in the gap.

Various implementations include a three-dimensional printing device. The device includes a primary extruder, a secondary extruder, and a build plate. The primary extruder has a hollow primary body for accepting a printing material. An end of the primary body defines a primary extruder opening shaped to extrude a primary extrusion of melted printing material. The secondary extruder has a hollow secondary body for accepting a printing material. An end of the secondary body defines a secondary extruder opening shaped to extrude a secondary extrusion of melted printing material. A first primary extrusion extruded from the primary extruder disposed side by side with a second primary extrusion extruded from the primary extruder adjacent the build plate in a first layer defines a gap between adjacent edges of the first and second primary extrusions. A first secondary extrusion extruded from the secondary extruder is disposable in a second layer in the gap.

A platen for a 3D printer apparatus contains tab pairs for the winding of a single wire to form the platen surface after being wound back and forth across its length. Punch backs for hole punching onto such a sheet exist on aluminum blocks that secure rails between which the platen is assembled onto the printer table top.

A platen for a 3D printer apparatus contains tab pairs for the winding of a single wire to form the platen surface after being wound back and forth across its length. Punch backs for hole punching onto such a sheet exist on aluminum blocks that secure rails between which the platen is assembled onto the printer table top.