Disclosed herein are systems and methods for using printing process data to predict quality measures for three-dimensional (3D) printed objects and properties of the materials comprising the 3D objects. Printing may be performed using resistive or Joule printing. The system may include a computer communicatively coupled to a 3D printing apparatus, which may store printing parameters. The 3D printing apparatus may be able to take measurements during a print job, and record those measurements in memory. The 3D printing apparatus may also be able to record printing states before, during, and/or after printing. A combination of printing states, printing parameters, and measurements may be analyzed, for example, by a machine learning algorithm, in order to predict material properties and quality measures.

A nozzle for a laser processing head is provided. The nozzle comprises a body defining a bore extending between a proximal region of the body and a distal region of the body. The bore is configured to conduct a laser beam along with a first portion of a fluid therethrough for delivery to a workpiece. The nozzle also includes a cap coupled to the distal region of the body and a plurality of secondary passages cooperatively defined between the cap and the body and disposed circumferentially about the bore of the body. The plurality of secondary passages are configured to conduct a second portion of the fluid through the distal region and circumferentially about the bore. A flow rate of the second fluid portion through the plurality of secondary passages is slower than a flow rate of the first fluid portion through the bore.

A refractory material foam can include a plurality of members made from a refractory material, where each member of the plurality of members is fused to one or more other members of the plurality of members at a fusion point, where each member of the plurality of members is arranged in a determined spatial location.