Systems and methods for using a non-stick conductive material to automate tool touch-off in an additive manufacturing process are provided. A substrate comprises a first conductive layer, an intermediate binder layer, and a second non-stick conductive layer. The non-stick conductive layer may comprise perfluoroalkoxy alkanes and carbon nanotubes. An electrical connection may be made between the first conductive layer and the second non-stick conductive layer. When used with an additive manufacturing device, when the nozzle of the device contacts the substrate, a circuit may close resulting in a detectable voltage drop. When the voltage drop is detected, a reference point for the additive manufacturing device may be set.

A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a cleaning system. The cleaning system includes a gas source configured to introduce a gas at least partially into the nozzle. The cleaning system also includes a cleaning tool configured to remove solidified metallic dross from within the nozzle.

A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a cleaning system. The cleaning system includes a gas source configured to introduce a gas at least partially into the nozzle. The cleaning system also includes a cleaning tool configured to remove solidified metallic dross from within the nozzle.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

A method of layerwise building up an object from at least a first and a second light hardenable resin on a 3D printing device, and a 3D printing device that is configured to perform such a method. The 3D printing device has a build platform on which the object can be built up, a light-transmissive carrier comprising a plurality of recesses and a light projector for projecting a light-pattern through the carrier. The method has the steps of (a) partially building up the object and thereby providing an object-in-process; (b) coating a first surface area of the carrier with a first blank layer of the first light hardenable resin; (c) moving the carrier and thereby positioning the first blank layer between the build platform and the light projector; (d) bringing the object-in-process into contact with the first blank layer; (e) irradiating the first blank layer with a light pattern and thereby supplementing the object-in-process by a hardened layer; and (f) separating the supplemented object-in-process from the carrier.

A method of layerwise building up an object from at least a first and a second light hardenable resin on a 3D printing device, and a 3D printing device that is configured to perform such a method. The 3D printing device has a build platform on which the object can be built up, a light-transmissive carrier comprising a plurality of recesses and a light projector for projecting a light-pattern through the carrier. The method has the steps of (a) partially building up the object and thereby providing an object-in-process; (b) coating a first surface area of the carrier with a first blank layer of the first light hardenable resin; (c) moving the carrier and thereby positioning the first blank layer between the build platform and the light projector; (d) bringing the object-in-process into contact with the first blank layer; (e) irradiating the first blank layer with a light pattern and thereby supplementing the object-in-process by a hardened layer; and (f) separating the supplemented object-in-process from the carrier.

A three-dimensional object molding method and molding device, where the method includes the following steps: forming a powder particle layer, wherein the powder particle layer at least contains thermosetting powder particles capable of undergoing thermal polymerization; spraying a photocurable material onto the powder particle layer according to layer printing data, such that the photocurable material covers at least part of the powder particle layer and permeates into this layer; curing the photocurable material to form a slice layer; repeating the steps to obtain a plurality of slice layers, and stacking the plurality of slice layers layer-by-layer to form a three-dimensional object green body; and heating the green body to thermally polymerize the thermosetting powder particles so as to obtain the three-dimensional object. The method provided in the present application enables the obtained three-dimensional object to have very good mechanical properties and a high molding accuracy.

A three-dimensional object molding method and molding device, where the method includes the following steps: forming a powder particle layer, wherein the powder particle layer at least contains thermosetting powder particles capable of undergoing thermal polymerization; spraying a photocurable material onto the powder particle layer according to layer printing data, such that the photocurable material covers at least part of the powder particle layer and permeates into this layer; curing the photocurable material to form a slice layer; repeating the steps to obtain a plurality of slice layers, and stacking the plurality of slice layers layer-by-layer to form a three-dimensional object green body; and heating the green body to thermally polymerize the thermosetting powder particles so as to obtain the three-dimensional object. The method provided in the present application enables the obtained three-dimensional object to have very good mechanical properties and a high molding accuracy.

A tank assembly for a 3D printing system may include a membrane assembly that is releasably secured to a bottom rim of a tank sidewall of the tank assembly. The securing mechanism may include one or more of a friction-fit coupling and a magnetic coupling. The membrane assembly may include a frame, a radiation-transparent flexible membrane and a membrane securing member. A peripheral portion of the flexible membrane may be secured within a groove of the frame by the membrane securing member. The tank sidewall may include one or more components for supplying fresh resin to the tank assembly and one or more components for draining used resin from the tank assembly.