A system, method and apparatus for additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes fluidizing particles with a medium to form a fluidized bed and additively manufacturing an article formed from the particles. The article has an open porous structure defining a plurality of pores and a plurality of fluid paths through the article. The method further includes flowing the particles and the medium through the fluid paths while the fluid paths are being formed. The article may be additively manufactured by selectively sintering the particles at target areas on the article which are near the surface of the fluidized bed.

Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).

A coated powder for use in additive manufacturing includes a base polymer layer formed of a base polymer material and a coating polymer layer formed of a coating polymer material. At least the coating polymer material is susceptible to dielectric heating in response to electromagnetic radiation, thereby promoting fusion between adjacent particles of coated powder that are deposited during the additive manufacturing process. Specifically, when electromagnetic radiation is applied to at least an interface area between adjacent particles of coated powder, the polymer coating layer melts to diffuse across the interface area, thereby preventing formation of voids. The base polymer material and the coating polymer material also may have similar melting points and compatible solubility parameters to further promote fusion between particles.

The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object with an additive manufacturing system, such as an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, a selective laser sintering system, and/or an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, comprising providing a support material comprising more than 50% wt. of a semi-crystalline polyamide [polyamide (A)] having a melting point, as determined according to ASTM D3418, of at least 250 C. and possessing a water absorption at saturation, by immersion in water at 23 C., of at least 2% wt.

A coated powder for use in additive manufacturing includes a base polymer layer formed of a base polymer material and a coating polymer layer formed of a coating polymer material. At least the coating polymer material is susceptible to dielectric heating in response to electromagnetic radiation, thereby promoting fusion between adjacent particles of coated powder that are deposited during the additive manufacturing process. Specifically, when electromagnetic radiation is applied to at least an interface area between adjacent particles of coated powder, the polymer coating layer melts to diffuse across the interface area, thereby preventing formation of voids. The base polymer material and the coating polymer material also may have similar melting points and compatible solubility parameters to further promote fusion between particles.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrically conductive membrane separation from a mixture solution via membrane nanofiltration, electro-filtration, or electro-extraction by: generating an electric field at the membrane filter, holding the membrane filter at a constant electric potential, or driving a constant current through the membrane filter; feeding a mixture solution through the membrane nanofiltration system; and separating a component from the mixture solution into a permeate solution.

An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

An example system includes an object and a support frame supporting the object. The support frame constrains movement of the object relative to the support frame, and the support frame includes at least one of a cage or a shackle to non-rigidly constrain movement of at least a part of the object.

Build material handling unit for a powder module for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module, wherein the build material handling unit is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material arranged inside a powder chamber of the powder module by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber.

The invention provides a cross-flow separation element comprising a single-piece rigid porous support (2) having within its volume at least one channel (4.sub.1) for passing a flow of the fluid medium for treatment, which channel presents a flexuous flow volume (V1) defined by sweeping a generator section along a curvilinear path around a reference axis, and in that the reference axis does not intersect said generator section and is contained within the volume of the porous support.