A system for additive manufacturing a medical device, the system comprising a first dispensing system, a second dispensing system, a deposition apparatus, and a deposition substrate on a surface of which the deposition apparatus is configured to deposit at least one elastomeric material into a filament. The deposition apparatus receives the at least one elastomeric material from the first and second dispensing systems in proportions effecting a desired property in the medical device. The deposition apparatus may comprise heating and/or cooling elements, a sonic vibration module, and/or a pneumatic suck-back valve. The deposition substrate may have a configuration corresponding to a desired shape of the medical device and is configured to rotate and/or translate relative to the deposition apparatus. The system comprises a controller configured to control the deposition.

A printhead assembly (100) suitable for a 3D bioprinter is disclosed, the printhead assembly (100) comprising at least one reservoir (106); a sample loading system (102) in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir (106), the sample loading system (102) configured to direct fluid into the at least one reservoir (106); and a dispensing system (103) having at least one dispensing outlet (126), the at least one dispensing outlet (126) in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir (106) and configured to dispense fluid from the at least one reservoir (106).

A printhead assembly (100) suitable for a 3D bioprinter is disclosed, the printhead assembly (100) comprising at least one reservoir (106); a sample loading system (102) in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir (106), the sample loading system (102) configured to direct fluid into the at least one reservoir (106); and a dispensing system (103) having at least one dispensing outlet (126), the at least one dispensing outlet (126) in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir (106) and configured to dispense fluid from the at least one reservoir (106).

A method for producing a three-dimensional object on an additive fabrication device includes placing a first composite material patch on a bottom of a vessel of the additive fabrication device. The method also includes moving a build plate of the additive fabrication device whereby at least one of the build platform or a layer of at least partially cured resin on the build plate touches the first composite material patch. The method further includes irradiating resin contained inside the vessel with an energy source to at least partially cure a layer of resin integrated with the first composite material patch.

A method for producing a three-dimensional object on an additive fabrication device includes placing a first composite material patch on a bottom of a vessel of the additive fabrication device. The method also includes moving a build plate of the additive fabrication device whereby at least one of the build platform or a layer of at least partially cured resin on the build plate touches the first composite material patch. The method further includes irradiating resin contained inside the vessel with an energy source to at least partially cure a layer of resin integrated with the first composite material patch.

An extrusion device and a 3D printer are provided. The extrusion device includes a feeding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a first driving mechanism, a switching mechanism and a second driving mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes a first feeding pipe and a second feeding pipe. The discharging mechanism includes a discharging pipe, and the discharging pipe is connected to the first feeding pipe and the second feeding pipe. The first driving mechanism is used for driving a consumable in the first feeding pipe or the second feeding pipe to move. The switching mechanism corresponds to the first feeding pipe and the second feeding pipe, and the second driving mechanism corresponds to the switching mechanism and is used for driving the switching mechanism to switch between a first state and a second state. The working efficiency of the apparatus can be improved.

According to an example, an apparatus may include an agent delivery device to selectively deliver an agent onto a layer of build material particles. The apparatus may also include an energy source to apply energy onto the layer of build material particles to selectively fuse the build material particles in the layer based upon the locations at which the agent was delivered and a chamber formed of a plurality of walls, in which the agent delivery device and the energy source are housed inside the chamber. The apparatus may further include a vapor source to supply vapor into the chamber to wet the build material particles inside the chamber.

A stereolithography system includes a tank provided with a bottom and a stereolithography machine provided with a supporting frame and with a supporting structure operatively associated with the supporting frame and defining a housing configured to accommodate the tank. The tank includes a duct made of a deformable material and having a first mouth and a second mouth in fluid-dynamic communication with the tank; the supporting structure is configured in such a way as to assume, with respect to the supporting frame, a first position and a second position in which the tank is in an inclined position with respect to the bearing plane of the supporting frame, and the stereolithography machine includes a counteracting mechanism configured to be placed into contact with the duct in that second position.

A powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that includes a powder bed; a material powder, wherein the material powder includes individual grains; an apparatus for spreading the material powder across the powder bed in a layer-by-layer manner; and an ultrasonic device adapted to function in cooperation with the powder-spreading apparatus for compacting the material powder in each layer and distributing the individual grains in each layer of material powder in a substantially uniform manner.

An apparatus for manufacturing an object includes an extrusion head having an extrusion needle for extruding thermoplastic material associated with one or more fiber strands. The apparatus may further include a turn-table, a more robotic arm for moving the extrusion head and needle, thermoplastic filament and fiber strand spools and thermoplastic filament and fiber strands. A controller is provided for directing the robotic arm, extrusion head and the turn-table. Further, a method for manufacturing an object includes generating a design for the object that substantially satisfies desired structural properties of the object and generating a sequence for extruding one or more beads of thermoplastic material to manufacture the object according to the design, in which the one or more beads of thermoplastic material are associated with one or more fiber strands. The one or more beads of thermoplastic material and the associated one or more fiber strands are then extruded according to the sequence.