An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. The two-dimensional energy patterning system may be used to control a state of matter of each successive additive layer. Accordingly, the system may be used to alter the chemical bond arrangement of the material forming the various additive layers.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. The two-dimensional energy patterning system may be used to control a state of matter of each successive additive layer. Accordingly, the system may be used to alter the chemical bond arrangement of the material forming the various additive layers.

A device (1) for the generative production of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer in a successive manner using at least one laser beam (5), comprising at least one device (4) for generating at least one laser beam (5) in order to selectively solidify individual construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer. The device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) that is arranged or can be arranged directly over the construction plane (9) on which solidified construction material layers or construction material layers to be solidified are selectively formed and is designed to generate a laser beam (5) directed directly onto the construction plane, and/or the device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) and at least one optical element (27).

A device (1) for the generative production of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer in a successive manner using at least one laser beam (5), comprising at least one device (4) for generating at least one laser beam (5) in order to selectively solidify individual construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer. The device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) that is arranged or can be arranged directly over the construction plane (9) on which solidified construction material layers or construction material layers to be solidified are selectively formed and is designed to generate a laser beam (5) directed directly onto the construction plane, and/or the device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) and at least one optical element (27).

A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.

A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The imaging component may be a programmable planar light source utilizing a micropixelation system and refractive pixel shifting mechanism, or other imaging system. The device may include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component. The object may be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component.

A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The imaging component may be a programmable planar light source utilizing a micropixelation system and refractive pixel shifting mechanism, or other imaging system. The device may include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component. The object may be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus using a digital light processing (DLP) projector with a laser scanner, the apparatus comprising: a resin storage unit storing a photocurable resin; a DLP projector unit projecting light to the resin storage unit; a molding stage unit provided to be capable of being lifted and lowered in a vertical direction from a bottom of the resin storage unit; a laser scanner unit performing scanning of light for the resin storage unit; a scanner transfer unit allowing the laser scanner unit to move in an x-axis direction; an image processing unit dividing one sectional image of a sculpture into a core portion and a shell portion; and a controller receiving data on the core portion and the shell portion from the image processing unit, controlling the DLP projector, the laser scanner unit, the scanner transfer unit, and the molding stage unit.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional printing apparatus using a digital light processing (DLP) projector with a laser scanner, the apparatus comprising: a resin storage unit storing a photocurable resin; a DLP projector unit projecting light to the resin storage unit; a molding stage unit provided to be capable of being lifted and lowered in a vertical direction from a bottom of the resin storage unit; a laser scanner unit performing scanning of light for the resin storage unit; a scanner transfer unit allowing the laser scanner unit to move in an x-axis direction; an image processing unit dividing one sectional image of a sculpture into a core portion and a shell portion; and a controller receiving data on the core portion and the shell portion from the image processing unit, controlling the DLP projector, the laser scanner unit, the scanner transfer unit, and the molding stage unit.

A 3D additive manufacturing machine and an additive manufacturing method for manufacturing objects layer by layer, to obviate a need for a rotating prism. The machine can fill spaces in any one layer between paths generated by neighboring illumination spots from an array by sweeping subsequent paths between previously manufactured paths or by meandering along the paths. As a consequence, sufficient intensity may be provided for 3D additive manufacturing, even when using LEDs as a light sources.