A debinder provides for debinding printed green parts in an additive manufacturing system. The debinder can include a storage chamber, a process chamber, a distill chamber, a waste chamber, and a condenser. The storage chamber stores a liquid solvent for debinding the green part. The process chamber debinds the green part using a volume of the liquid solvent transferred from the storage chamber. The distill chamber collects a solution drained from the process chamber and produces a solvent vapor from the solution. The condenser condenses the solvent vapor to the liquid solvent and transfer the liquid solvent to the storage chamber. The waste chamber collects a waste component of the solution.

A debinder provides for debinding printed green parts in an additive manufacturing system. The debinder can include a storage chamber, a process chamber, a distill chamber, a waste chamber, and a condenser. The storage chamber stores a liquid solvent for debinding the green part. The process chamber debinds the green part using a volume of the liquid solvent transferred from the storage chamber. The distill chamber collects a solution drained from the process chamber and produces a solvent vapor from the solution. The condenser condenses the solvent vapor to the liquid solvent and transfer the liquid solvent to the storage chamber. The waste chamber collects a waste component of the solution.

A three-dimensional object printer comprises a conveyor having a surface configured to convey a three-dimensional object in a first direction; a leveling assembly configured to level a surface of the three-dimensional object as the conveyer conveys the three-dimensional object in the first direction, the leveling assembly comprising (i) a member, (ii) a roller connected to the member having a cylindrical shape, the roller having an outer surface that moves upon the surface of the three-dimensional object to level a surface of the three-dimensional object, and (iii) an actuator arranged near the member, the actuator being configured to mechanically interact with the member to move the roller with respect to the planar surface of the conveyer; and a controller configured to, as the outer surface of the roller moves upon the surface of the three-dimensional object, operate the actuator to move the roller with respect the conveyer.

A three-dimensional object printer comprises a conveyor having a surface configured to convey a three-dimensional object in a first direction; a leveling assembly configured to level a surface of the three-dimensional object as the conveyer conveys the three-dimensional object in the first direction, the leveling assembly comprising (i) a member, (ii) a roller connected to the member having a cylindrical shape, the roller having an outer surface that moves upon the surface of the three-dimensional object to level a surface of the three-dimensional object, and (iii) an actuator arranged near the member, the actuator being configured to mechanically interact with the member to move the roller with respect to the planar surface of the conveyer; and a controller configured to, as the outer surface of the roller moves upon the surface of the three-dimensional object, operate the actuator to move the roller with respect the conveyer.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing module including a tank filled with a liquid forming material, a top cover assembled on the tank to close the tank, a modeling platform assembled to the cover, and a first tenon movably disposed in the cover is provided. The modeling platform is immersed in the liquid forming material in the tank. When the first tenon is driven along a second axis, the cover and the modeling platform are driven along a first axis to open the tank. A 3D printing apparatus is also provided.

An apparatus and device for creating a vertical strengthening feature within a 3D printed article of manufacture for improving mechanical performance in the Z-direction. Fill material is deposited in voids vertically crossing multiple layers during the build of 3D printing. The device includes a penetrating extension that fits within the void to create a vertical strengthening feature via heat and/or extruded fill material. The size and/or movement of the heated extension can impact the void side walls to reflow the build material and blend the layers together within the void side walls.

A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The imaging component may be a programmable planar light source utilizing a micropixelation system and refractive pixel shifting mechanism, or other imaging system. The device may include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component. The object may be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component.

An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.

An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.

An additive manufacturing system includes a platen, a dispenser apparatus positioned above the platen to dispense a layer of powder over the platen, and an energy source to selectively fuse the layer of powder. The dispenser apparatus includes a support structure, a dispenser secured to the support structure and including a reservoir to hold the powder and one or more openings configured to deliver powder from the reservoir in a linear region that extends along a first axis, a spreader extending along the first axis and secured to the support structure and positioned to spread powder already delivered on the platen by the dispenser, and a drive system to move the support structure along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that the dispenser and blade move together to sweep the linear region along the second axis to deposit and level the powder.