According to one aspect there is provided a method of preparing a build unit for use in a 3D printer. The method comprises receiving a build unit at an interface of a build unit preparation module and performing a predetermined build unit preparation process on the build unit.

A method of forming a model of a porous structure includes three dimensionally printing a mold of the porous structure using a polycaprolactone mold material, filling the mold with a polymer mixture, and heating the filled mold at a temperature above a melting temperature of the mold material to cure the polymer mixture, where the cured polymer mixture forms the model of the porous structure.

A method of forming a model of a porous structure includes three dimensionally printing a mold of the porous structure using a polycaprolactone mold material, filling the mold with a polymer mixture, and heating the filled mold at a temperature above a melting temperature of the mold material to cure the polymer mixture, where the cured polymer mixture forms the model of the porous structure.

The present disclosure relates to a 3D bioprinter (1) comprising a base unit (2). The base unit (2) has a support (3) adapted for mounting of at least one toolhead (4), a communication interface part (5) for communication of data with the at least one toolhead (4), when mounted, and a base unit processing element (7) adapted to communicate with a toolhead processing element (8) of the at least one toolhead over said communication interface part (5). The present disclosure relates further to a 3D bioprinter toolhead. The present disclosure relates further to a method for bioprinting a construct.

Systems and methods that prevent oxygen inhibition of a light-initiated polymerization reaction by forcing the oxygen away from the reaction surfaces. In some embodiments, oxygen is purged by bringing a planarizing surface (e.g., a thin transparent film and/or a transparent planar surface) into contact with a layer of UV curable material disposed on a workpiece and then moving the planarizing surface away from the workpiece one the UV material is cured.

A 3-dimensional object-forming apparatus is provided which may avoid lowering of irradiation efficiency of laser light due to fumes and so forth while avoiding lowering of quality of the formed object. A shroud 20 includes an inside partition wall portion 21 that demarcates an inside space S.sub.1 which extends from one end opening 202 to another end opening 206, and an outside partition wall portion 22 that opens in the other end opening 206 of a shroud 20 on an outside of the inside space S.sub.1 and demarcates, together with the inside partition wall portion 21, an outside space S.sub.2 which closes in a position closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206 of the shroud. A ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in the other end opening 206 of the shroud 20 is larger than the ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in an upstream portion closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206.

A 3-dimensional object-forming apparatus is provided which may avoid lowering of irradiation efficiency of laser light due to fumes and so forth while avoiding lowering of quality of the formed object. A shroud 20 includes an inside partition wall portion 21 that demarcates an inside space S.sub.1 which extends from one end opening 202 to another end opening 206, and an outside partition wall portion 22 that opens in the other end opening 206 of a shroud 20 on an outside of the inside space S.sub.1 and demarcates, together with the inside partition wall portion 21, an outside space S.sub.2 which closes in a position closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206 of the shroud. A ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in the other end opening 206 of the shroud 20 is larger than the ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in an upstream portion closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206.

In a method of providing a flow for a process chamber of a device for producing a three-dimensional object by layer-wise application and selective solidification of a building material in a build area a process gas is supplied to the process chamber in a lower altitude region of the process chamber, wherein the process chamber includes a gas inlet for introducing the process gas into the process chamber and a gas outlet for discharging the process gas from the process chamber. The gas inlet and the gas outlet are provided in the lower altitude region of the process chamber and the process gas flows in a main flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, and wherein a secondary flow is located in a sub-region of the lower altitude region, which sub-region is located above a bottom surface of the process chamber surrounding the build area.

Systems, apparatus and methods for producing objects with cryogenic 3D printing with controllable micro and macrostructure with potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and the food industry. The technology can produce complex structures with controlled morphology when the printed 3D object is immersed in a liquid coolant, whose upper surface is maintained at the same level as the highest deposited layer of the object. This ensures that the computer-controlled process of freezing is controlled precisely and already printed frozen layers remain at a constant temperature. The technology controls the temperature, flow rate and volume of the printed fluid emitted by the dispenser that has X-Y positional translation and conditions at the interface between the dispenser and coolant surface. The technology can also control the temperature of the pool of liquid coolant and the vertical position of the printing surface and pool of coolant liquid.

Systems, apparatus and methods for producing objects with cryogenic 3D printing with controllable micro and macrostructure with potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and the food industry. The technology can produce complex structures with controlled morphology when the printed 3D object is immersed in a liquid coolant, whose upper surface is maintained at the same level as the highest deposited layer of the object. This ensures that the computer-controlled process of freezing is controlled precisely and already printed frozen layers remain at a constant temperature. The technology controls the temperature, flow rate and volume of the printed fluid emitted by the dispenser that has X-Y positional translation and conditions at the interface between the dispenser and coolant surface. The technology can also control the temperature of the pool of liquid coolant and the vertical position of the printing surface and pool of coolant liquid.