An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, one or more supports positioned above the platform, an actuator, a first dispenser system configured dispense a plurality of successive layers of powder onto a build area supported by the platform, a first binder material dispenser configured to selectively dispense a first binder material on a voxel-by-voxel basis to an uppermost layer of powder in the build area, and an energy source configured to emit radiation toward the platform so as to solidify the binder material. The first dispenser system includes a first powder dispenser that is attached to and moves with a first support from the one or more supports and is configured to selectively dispense a first powder onto the build area, and a second powder dispenser that is configured to selectively dispense the second powder onto the build area.

A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing includes forming a green part by successively forming a plurality of layers of the green part, and processing the green part to fuse the powder into a solid mass. For each layer of the green part, a layer of powder is dispensed onto a build area on a platform, wherein the selective dispensing covers less than all of the build area, a binder material is selectively dispensed onto the layer of powder to form a combined layer of powder and binder material, and radiation is directed toward the platform so as to solidify the binder material to form a layer of the plurality of layers of the green part in which the powder is held by the solidified binder material.

An additive manufacturing apparatus has a platform, one or more supports positioned above the platform, an actuator coupled to at least one of the platform and the one or more supports and configured to create relative motion therebetween such that the one or more supports scan across the platform, a first dispenser system configured dispense a plurality of successive layers of powder onto a build area supported by the platform, a second dispenser system configured to dispense a binder material onto the build area, and an energy source configured to emit radiation toward the platform so as to solidify the binder material. The first dispenser system includes a first powder dispenser that is attached to and moves with a first support from the one or more supports and is configured to selectively dispense a first powder onto the build area.

Provided is a three-dimensional shaped article with relatively high strength and relatively high accuracy. A sintering and shaping method includes: a shaping layer forming process of forming a shaping layer by using a sintering and shaping material in which inorganic particles are included; a process of applying a liquid binding agent, in which a thermoplastic resin and inorganic particles are included, to a desired region of the shaping layer; a process of curing the liquid binding agent, which is applied, to form a shaping cross-sectional layer (shaping portion); a process of removing a region (non-shaping portion) of the shaping layer to which the liquid binding agent is not applied; and a process of heating the shaping cross-sectional layer that is laminated for a sintering treatment.

In an example of a three-dimensional (3D) printing method, a ceramic build material is applied. A liquid functional material, including an anionically stabilized susceptor material, is applied to at least a portion of the ceramic build material. A sintering aid/fixer fluid, including a cationically stabilized amphoteric alumina particulate material, is applied to the at least the portion of the ceramic build material. The applied anionically stabilized susceptor material and the applied cationically stabilized amphoteric alumina particulate material react to immobilize the anionically stabilized susceptor material, thereby patterning the at least the portion of the ceramic build material.

An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object includes a fabrication stage and a flattener. A fabrication layer in which powder particles are bound together is formed layer-by-layer on the fabrication stage. The flattener relatively moves in a moving direction along a stage surface of the fabrication stage and flattens a surface of powder on the fabrication stage to form a powder layer. The fabrication stage and the flattener are arranged to be relatively movable in a height direction. In formation of the powder layer on the fabrication layer formed on the fabrication stage, the apparatus performs an operation to increase a distance between the flattener and the fabrication stage in the height direction when the flattener moves to a position near an edge of the fabrication layer in the moving direction.

Provided is a three-dimensional shaped article with relatively high strength and relatively high accuracy. A sintering and shaping method includes: a shaping layer forming process of forming a shaping layer (5) by using a sintering and shaping material in which inorganic particles (2a) are included; a process of applying a liquid binding agent (8), in which inorganic particles (8a) are included, to a desired region of the shaping layer (5); a process of curing the liquid binding agent (8), which is applied, to form a shaping cross-sectional layer (shaping portion (5a)); a process of removing a region (non-shaping portion (5b)) of the shaping layer (5) to which the liquid binding agent (8) is not applied; and a process of heating the shaping cross-sectional layer that is laminated for a sintering treatment.

In a three-dimensional printing method example, build material granules are applied. Each of the build material granules includes uncoated, primary ceramic particles agglomerated together by a binder that is soluble in a primary solvent of a fusing agent. The fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the build material granules. The binder dissolves and a green body including a slurry of the uncoated, ceramic particles is created.

Methods and equipment are disclosed relating to three-dimensional printing that include positioning an array of nozzles within a bed of loose solid material, moving the array of nozzles through the bed of loose solid material while injecting a liquid from the array of nozzles in a controlled pattern causing the liquid to react with a portion of the bed of loose solid material forming a solid concrete three-dimensional object. An unreacted portion of the bed of loose solid material may then be separated from the solid three-dimensional object.

The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional molded parts in two method steps and infiltrating the molded part, as well as a material system.