A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing an object. The system may have a support and a first module operatively mounted to an end of the support and configured to discharge a material during motion of the support to form an object. The system may also have a second module configured to sever the material, at least a third module configured to at least one of compact or cure the material, and an actuator configured to cause movement of the second and the at least a third modules relative to the first module.

A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing an object. The system may have a support and a first module operatively mounted to an end of the support and configured to discharge a material during motion of the support to form an object. The system may also have a second module configured to sever the material, at least a third module configured to at least one of compact or cure the material, and an actuator configured to cause movement of the second and the at least a third modules relative to the first module.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

A wax layer may be applied to a print bed to promote adhesion and release of a printed part during additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing methods may comprise: depositing a wax layer comprising one or more waxes upon a print bed of an additive manufacturing apparatus, and forming a printed part upon the print bed through layer-by-layer deposition of a printing material. The printed parts may be released from the print bed once printing is complete, but without damaging the print bed.

A wax layer may be applied to a print bed to promote adhesion and release of a printed part during additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing methods may comprise: depositing a wax layer comprising one or more waxes upon a print bed of an additive manufacturing apparatus, and forming a printed part upon the print bed through layer-by-layer deposition of a printing material. The printed parts may be released from the print bed once printing is complete, but without damaging the print bed.

A high throughput, efficient, and simplified unloading and packaging systems and methods for large-scale production of pharmaceutical units (104) using additive manufacturing. The systems and methods may unload, inspect, package, and trace pharmaceutical units, produced by an additive manufacturing system (900), that are not damaged or deformed. The unloading and packaging system can include one or more unloading and packaging devices (100). The unloading and packaging device can include a modular configuration having modules. Individual modules to be arranged in any relative order, at any location, and with any number in the unloading and packaging device. The flexibility of the modular configuration allows one or more modules to be removed or added at any given time due to, e.g., expansion, downsizing, module repair, module upgrades, etc. High throughput can be achieved by operating unloading and packaging devices independently.

A high throughput, efficient, and simplified unloading and packaging systems and methods for large-scale production of pharmaceutical units (104) using additive manufacturing. The systems and methods may unload, inspect, package, and trace pharmaceutical units, produced by an additive manufacturing system (900), that are not damaged or deformed. The unloading and packaging system can include one or more unloading and packaging devices (100). The unloading and packaging device can include a modular configuration having modules. Individual modules to be arranged in any relative order, at any location, and with any number in the unloading and packaging device. The flexibility of the modular configuration allows one or more modules to be removed or added at any given time due to, e.g., expansion, downsizing, module repair, module upgrades, etc. High throughput can be achieved by operating unloading and packaging devices independently.

An automated additive manufacturing production (AAMP) system includes a controller, a plurality of AAMP system stations disposed in an environment and configured to perform one or more AAMP routines, and a plurality of robots configured to autonomously travel within the environment. The controller is configured to select one or more AAMP system stations from among the plurality of AAMP system stations to perform the one or more AAMP routines based on a digital model of the environment and AAMP system operation data. The AAMP system operation data includes a printer state, a cleaning device state, or a combination thereof.

A robotic gripper apparatus for an automated additive manufacturing production system (AAMPS) includes a pair of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is moveable in a transverse direction between a first position in which the gripping assembly engages an AAMPS workpiece and a second position in which the gripping assembly is disengaged from the AAMPS workpiece. Each gripping assembly includes a gripping element that defines an interface slot configured to receive the AAMPS workpiece. The interface slot is defined by a pair of transversely extending edges of the gripping element and a longitudinal edge of the gripping element disposed between the pair of transversely extending edges.