A receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.

A receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.

In one example, a pneumatic transport system to transport build material in an additive manufacturing machine includes a conduit, a source of air pressure to pull or push a stream of air through the conduit, a source of build material to introduce a build material into the stream of air, a separator to remove build material from the stream of air, a flow meter downstream from the separator to measure the stream of air flowing through the conduit, and a controller operatively connected to the flow meter and to the source of air pressure and/or the sources of build material to, based on a measurement from the flow meter, adjust a rate of flow of the stream of air in the conduit.

According to examples, a 3D printing system may include a feed line to receive build material particles from a material bin, an air pressure generator to generate airflow inside the feedline to move the build material particles through the feedline, and a cyclone separator to receive the airflow and the build material particles from the feed line and to separate the build material particles from the airflow. The cyclone separator may include a chamber wall, a build material particle discharge opening, and a tapered wall connecting the chamber wall and the build material particle discharge opening. In addition, a ratio between a diameter of the chamber and a diameter of the discharge opening may be between about 1.5 and about 4.0.

According to examples, a 3D printing system may include a feed line to receive build material particles from a material bin, an air pressure generator to generate airflow inside the feedline to move the build material particles through the feedline, and a cyclone separator to receive the airflow and the build material particles from the feed line and to separate the build material particles from the airflow. The cyclone separator may include a chamber wall, a build material particle discharge opening, and a tapered wall connecting the chamber wall and the build material particle discharge opening. In addition, a ratio between a diameter of the chamber and a diameter of the discharge opening may be between about 1.5 and about 4.0.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer and method having a pneumatic conveyance system (PCS) to transport build material to a vessel of the 3D printer. A feeder coupled to the vessel regulates the discharge flow of build material from the vessel. A sealing control coupled to the feeder reduces air inflow.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer and method having a pneumatic conveyance system (PCS) to transport build material to a vessel of the 3D printer. A feeder coupled to the vessel regulates the discharge flow of build material from the vessel. A sealing control coupled to the feeder reduces air inflow.

A method for temporary storage of granular material in a receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.

A method for temporary storage of granular material in a receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.

The present invention relates to a vacuum conveyor for conveying granulate and/or powdery material, the conveyor comprising: a main body having an upper end and a lower end; a cavity inside the main body, said cavity comprising an opening arranged at the lower end of the main body; a valve arranged at the opening position between an open position allowing a flow of granulate and/or powdery material out from the cavity through said opening and a sealing position sealing said opening; an inlet arranged at the upper end of the main body forming an inlet passage into the cavity; a venturi inside the main body at a position being distinct from the cavity, said venturi comprising an inlet and an outlet; and a suction channel fluidly connecting the throat of the venturi with the interior of the cavity at a position at or above the inlet.