Disclosed is direct ink write (DIW) print extrusion head for 3D printing of viscous elastomers. The disclosed print extrusion head comprises a mixer assembly, comprising a fluid distribution cap coupled to a carrier, an in-line mixer coupled to the fluid distribution cap. A cooling jacket surrounds the in-line mixer. A nozzle is coupled to the in-line mixer and protrudes below the cooling jacket over a work surface. The position of the nozzle relative to the work surface is changeable. At least one heat source is on the chassis and disposed adjacent to the fluid distribution cap. The at least one heat source comprises a heat guiding element to direct heat to a region onto the work surface below the nozzle.

A welding or additive manufacturing system includes a contact tip assembly having first and second exit orifices. A wire feeder is configured to deliver a first and second wire electrodes through the exit orifices. An arc generation power supply is configured to output a current waveform to the wire electrodes simultaneously, through the contact tip assembly. The current waveform includes a bridging current portion, and a background current portion having a lower current level than the bridging current portion. The bridging current portion has a current level sufficient to form a bridge droplet between the wire electrodes before the bridge droplet is transferred to a molten puddle during a deposition operation. Solid portions of the wire electrodes do not contact each other during the deposition operation. The bridge droplet is transferred to the molten puddle during a short circuit event between the molten puddle and the wire electrodes.

A welding or additive manufacturing system includes a contact tip assembly having first and second exit orifices. A wire feeder is configured to deliver a first and second wire electrodes through the exit orifices. An arc generation power supply is configured to output a current waveform to the wire electrodes simultaneously, through the contact tip assembly. The current waveform includes a bridging current portion, and a background current portion having a lower current level than the bridging current portion. The bridging current portion has a current level sufficient to form a bridge droplet between the wire electrodes before the bridge droplet is transferred to a molten puddle during a deposition operation. Solid portions of the wire electrodes do not contact each other during the deposition operation. The bridge droplet is transferred to the molten puddle during a short circuit event between the molten puddle and the wire electrodes.

A coated filament for use in additive manufacturing includes a base polymer layer formed of a base polymer material and a coating polymer layer formed of a coating polymer material. At least the coating polymer material is susceptible to dielectric heating in response to electromagnetic radiation, thereby promoting fusion between adjacent beads of coated filament that are deposited during the additive manufacturing process. Specifically, when electromagnetic radiation is applied to an interface area between two adjacent beads of the coated filament, the polymer coating layer melts to diffuse across the interface area, thereby preventing formation of voids. The base polymer material and the coating polymer material of the coated filament also may have similar melting points and compatible solubility parameters to further promote fusion between beads.

Disclosed are selective layer deposition based additive manufacturing systems and methods for printing a 3D part. Layers of a powder material are developed using one or more electrostatography-based engines. The layers are transferred for deposition on a part build surface. One or more lasers are used to heat a region of the part build surface and a developed layer near the nip roller entrance. The developed layer is then pressed into the part build surface.

A three-dimensional modeling device includes a plasticizing section for plasticizing a material to generate a shaping material, a stage on which the shaping material is stacked, a nozzle which has a nozzle opening, and ejects the shaping material from the nozzle opening toward a modeling area on the stage, a transfer mechanism section for changing a relative position between the nozzle and the stage, and a heating section having a heater and a heating member for heating the shaping material stacked in the modeling area with heat supplied from the heater. The nozzle opening is located between the stage and the heating section in a stacking direction of the shaping material, the heating section is configured so that a relative position to the stage changes together with the nozzle, and the heating member covers at least the modeling area when viewed along the stacking direction.

A three-dimensional modeling device includes a plasticizing section for plasticizing a material to generate a shaping material, a stage on which the shaping material is stacked, a nozzle which has a nozzle opening, and ejects the shaping material from the nozzle opening toward a modeling area on the stage, a transfer mechanism section for changing a relative position between the nozzle and the stage, and a heating section having a heater and a heating member for heating the shaping material stacked in the modeling area with heat supplied from the heater. The nozzle opening is located between the stage and the heating section in a stacking direction of the shaping material, the heating section is configured so that a relative position to the stage changes together with the nozzle, and the heating member covers at least the modeling area when viewed along the stacking direction.

A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for making an object on a bottom-up stereolithography apparatus that includes a light source, a drive assembly, optionally a heater and/or cooler, and a controller. The light source, optional heater and/or cooler, and/or the drive assembly have at least one adjustable parameter that is adjustable by said controller. An example method comprises (a) installing a removable window cassette on said apparatus in a configuration through which said light source projects, said window cassette comprising an optically transparent member having a build surface on which an object can be produced, and with said optically transparent member having at least one thermal profile associated therewith; and then (b) modifying said at least one adjustable parameter by said controller based on said at least one thermal profile of said optically transparent member; and then (c) producing the object on said build surface from a light-polymerizable liquid by bottom-up stereolithography.