Provided are a material feeding mechanism, a multi-material unit and a 3D printing system. The material feeding mechanism includes a main body, an unloading clutch assembly connected to the main body, and a driver assembly configured to drive the unloading clutch assembly to be switchable between a first position relative to the main body and a second position relative to the main body. In the first position, the unloading clutch assembly is drivingly coupled to a reel to rotate the reel under driving of the driver assembly to wind a wire around the reel. In the second position, the unloading clutch assembly is drivingly separated from the reel.

Compositions useful for making additive manufactured articles are comprised of a styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, the styrenic thermoplastic elastomer being comprised of a block copolymer being comprised of at least two blocks of a vinyl aromatic monomer and at least one block of a conjugated diene monomer, and a solid particulate filler dispersed therein, wherein the filler has a surface area of 0.05 m.sup.2/g to 120 m.sup.2/g. The compositions may be formed into filaments for use in fused filament fabrication additive manufacturing. The filaments display good printability without drying or storage under dry conditions.

Methods and materials to fabricate laminated devices are disclosed, particularly the laminates where the interlayer is deposited by 3d printing (or also called additive manufacturing process). In particular, emphasis is placed on the fabrication of electrooptical devices, including electrochromic, thermochromic and liquid crystal devices. In the electrochromic devices at least the electrolytic interlayer or optionally some of the other layers are deposited by this process, and for the other two the interlayer contains thermochromic and the liquid crystalline material respectively. In one embodiment printing is used to form both an interlayer and a sealant located at the perimeter of the interlayer. Laminated glass and plastic objects using this invention have many applications including their use in windows for building and transportation.

Methods and materials to fabricate laminated devices are disclosed, particularly the laminates where the interlayer is deposited by 3d printing (or also called additive manufacturing process). In particular, emphasis is placed on the fabrication of electrooptical devices, including electrochromic, thermochromic and liquid crystal devices. In the electrochromic devices at least the electrolytic interlayer or optionally some of the other layers are deposited by this process, and for the other two the interlayer contains thermochromic and the liquid crystalline material respectively. In one embodiment printing is used to form both an interlayer and a sealant located at the perimeter of the interlayer. Laminated glass and plastic objects using this invention have many applications including their use in windows for building and transportation.

Disclosed is a support material for a fused deposition modeling. The support material has excellent adhesion to a variety of model materials and is easily dissolved and removed by washing with water. Also, the waste liquid (PVA-based aqueous solution) generated after the washing operation may be allowed to be drained as it is, in compliance with environmental regulations. The support material comprises (A) PVA-based resin having a group containing sulfonic acid or a salt thereof and (B) biodegradable polyester. The (A) PVA-based resin having a group containing sulfonic acid or a salt thereof and (B) biodegradable polyester have a sea-island structure in which one is dispersed in the other as a matrix.

Disclosed is a support material for a fused deposition modeling. The support material has excellent adhesion to a variety of model materials and is easily dissolved and removed by washing with water. Also, the waste liquid (PVA-based aqueous solution) generated after the washing operation may be allowed to be drained as it is, in compliance with environmental regulations. The support material comprises (A) PVA-based resin having a group containing sulfonic acid or a salt thereof and (B) biodegradable polyester. The (A) PVA-based resin having a group containing sulfonic acid or a salt thereof and (B) biodegradable polyester have a sea-island structure in which one is dispersed in the other as a matrix.

A 3D printer includes a gantry configured to move in a plane substantially parallel to a x-y build plane and a print head configured to extrude molten material to print a 3D part in a layer-by-layer process. The 3D printer includes a platen configured to support the part being printed in the layer by layer process and positionable with a primary Z positioner along a z-axis substantially normal to the x-y build plane. The 3D printer includes a local Z positioner moved by the gantry, the local Z positioner comprising a linear motor configured to move the print head in the z-direction and having an operable range of motion extending from a nominal build position at which a nozzle of the print head is positioned in the x-y build plane to a raised position above the x-y build plane.

In one embodiment, a filament can comprise a thermoplastic polyimide, wherein the filament is adapted for use in a fused filament fabrication process and the thermoplastic polyimide may have a glass transition temperature not greater than 215° C. Three-dimensional bodies can be printed with the filament, wherein the three-dimensional bodies can have high strength values with even mechanical properties in printing direction and orthogonal to the printing direction.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing methodology is disclosed for freeform fabrication of hydrophobic structures without the use of printed support structures. The build material is directly printed in and supported by a fumed silica-containing yield-stress support bath to form an intermediate article in the support bath material. The intermediate article may be liquid or only partially solidified after being printed into the support bath material. The intermediate article is then heated or irradiated with ultraviolet radiation to initiate cross-linking to solidify the printed intermediate article, forming a finished article.

Carbon materials formed using various templates of precursor materials are described in addition to method and process for producing the same.