A system and method for autonomously creating subsequent physical objects using a 3-dimensional printer. The system includes a build platform which is ejected with a printed object adhered to it, with a replenishing mechanism to place a blank build platform into the expected build area such that printing a subsequent object may occur autonomously. The replenishing mechanism may draw from a plurality of stored blank build platforms which may be reusable in some embodiments and disposable in others.

A system and method for autonomously creating subsequent physical objects using a 3-dimensional printer. The system includes a build platform which is ejected with a printed object adhered to it, with a replenishing mechanism to place a blank build platform into the expected build area such that printing a subsequent object may occur autonomously. The replenishing mechanism may draw from a plurality of stored blank build platforms which may be reusable in some embodiments and disposable in others.

An example of a method, for three-dimensional (3D) printing, includes applying a build material and patterning at least a portion of the build material. The patterning includes selectively applying a wetting amount of a binder fluid on the at least the portion of the build material and subsequently selectively applying a remaining amount of the binder fluid on the at least the portion of the build material. An area density in grams per meter square meter (gsm) of the wetting amount ranges from about 2 times less to about 30 times less than area density in gsm of the remaining amount.

An example of a method, for three-dimensional (3D) printing, includes applying a build material and patterning at least a portion of the build material. The patterning includes selectively applying a wetting amount of a binder fluid on the at least the portion of the build material and subsequently selectively applying a remaining amount of the binder fluid on the at least the portion of the build material. An area density in grams per meter square meter (gsm) of the wetting amount ranges from about 2 times less to about 30 times less than area density in gsm of the remaining amount.

The invention relates to a print head (10) for a 3D printer (1), comprising a feed section (11) having a feeder (12) for a starting material (21) that is variable in the viscosity thereof; a plasticizing zone (14) having a heater (15) and an outlet opening (16) for the liquid phase (22) of the starting material (21); and a conveying device (30) for conveying the starting material (21) from the feed section (11) to the plasticizing zone (14), wherein the conveying device (30) comprises a piston (31) that can be inserted into the feed section (11). The invention is characterized in that the piston (31) has a first piston portion (5) facing the plasticizing zone (14) and having a guide surface (9), through which the piston (31) is guided in a bore (7) of the print head (10).

The invention relates to a print head (10) for a 3D printer (1), comprising a feed section (11) having a feeder (12) for a starting material (21) that is variable in the viscosity thereof; a plasticizing zone (14) having a heater (15) and an outlet opening (16) for the liquid phase (22) of the starting material (21); and a conveying device (30) for conveying the starting material (21) from the feed section (11) to the plasticizing zone (14), wherein the conveying device (30) comprises a piston (31) that can be inserted into the feed section (11). The invention is characterized in that the piston (31) has a first piston portion (5) facing the plasticizing zone (14) and having a guide surface (9), through which the piston (31) is guided in a bore (7) of the print head (10).

Apparatuses, systems and methods of providing heat to enable an FDM additive manufacturing nozzle having refined print control and enhanced printing speed. The heating element may include at least one sheath sized to fittedly engage around an outer circumference of the FDM printer nozzle; at least one wire coil at least partially contacting an inner diameter of the sheath; and at least one energy receiver associated with the at least one wire coil.

Apparatuses, systems and methods of providing heat to enable an FDM additive manufacturing nozzle having refined print control and enhanced printing speed. The heating element may include at least one sheath sized to fittedly engage around an outer circumference of the FDM printer nozzle; at least one wire coil at least partially contacting an inner diameter of the sheath; and at least one energy receiver associated with the at least one wire coil.

A plasticizing device includes a drive motor, a flat screw, a barrel, a heater, a cooler, and a controller, wherein the controller executes a plasticizing step of controlling the drive motor, the heater, and the cooler to plasticize a material fed between the flat screw and the barrel to make the material plasticized outflow from a communication hole, a stopping step of stopping at least the drive motor and the heater after executing the plasticizing step to stop the plasticizing step, and a start-up step of starting up the heater and controlling at least one of the heater and the cooler so that the outer circumference of the flat screw becomes at a temperature no higher than in the plasticizing step when resuming the plasticizing step after a predetermined time elapses from the stopping step.

A plasticizing device includes a drive motor, a flat screw, a barrel, a heater, a cooler, and a controller, wherein the controller executes a plasticizing step of controlling the drive motor, the heater, and the cooler to plasticize a material fed between the flat screw and the barrel to make the material plasticized outflow from a communication hole, a stopping step of stopping at least the drive motor and the heater after executing the plasticizing step to stop the plasticizing step, and a start-up step of starting up the heater and controlling at least one of the heater and the cooler so that the outer circumference of the flat screw becomes at a temperature no higher than in the plasticizing step when resuming the plasticizing step after a predetermined time elapses from the stopping step.