A method of manufacturing a series of objects is disclosed. In the method, a layer of a manufacturing medium is provided. Portions of the layer of the medium are bound together at at least edge regions of the layer to form a support portion. The support portion is lowered while gripping the support portion by the edge regions of the layer. A further layer of the medium is provided supported by the support portion. Portions of the further layer of the medium are selectively bound to form at least an object portion. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

An example three-dimensional printer system includes (a) a resin container, (b) a base plate, (c) a light source arranged below the resin container, where the light source is operable to emit electromagnetic radiation that causes resin in the resin container to cure, (d) a robotic device having the base plate attached thereto, wherein the robotic device positions the base plate above the resin container and is operable to move the base plate with at least two degrees of freedom, such that a build volume of the three-dimensional printer system extends beyond the edges of the resin container, and (e) a control system that is operable to (i) receive data specifying a three-dimensional structure and (ii) generate control signals that coordinate movement of the base plate by the robotic device and operation of the light source to form the three-dimensional structure from layers of resin.

Provided is a printing method of a 3D printer. The printing method uses a 3D printer including a nozzle control module configured to transfer a nozzle to a predetermined location on a plane, and a pair of transfer modules disposed perpendicular to the plane and spaced apart from each other, the method comprising: (a) positioning a first bed between the pair of transfer modules to be in contact with the pair of transfer modules; (b) when the pair of transfer modules moves the first bed downwards, by the nozzle control module, controlling the nozzle to discharge raw materials and thus printing a first printout on the first bed, and also forming a first support on the first bed around the first printout to make a friction with the pair of transfer modules; (c) after the first printout is completely made, forming a second bed above the first printout; and (d) forming a second printout on the second bed, and also forming a second support around the second printout to make a friction with the pair of transfer modules.

The invention relates to a stereolithography apparatus comprising: a container for a fluid material curable by radiation, a substrate plate, an actuator means for generating a relative movement between the container and the substrate plate, and an irradiation device for selectively irradiating the material arranged in the container. According to the invention, the actuator means and the irradiation device are mounted on a frame assembly, and the container and the substrate plate are combined to form an assembly and the assembly consisting of the container and the substrate plate is jointly inserted into the frame assembly, detachably secured therein by means of an attachment means and to be jointly removed from the frame assembly.

Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing methods comprise increasing the temperature of a plurality of foam particles with actinic radiation under conditions effective to fuse a portion of the plurality of foam particles comprising one or more thermoplastic elastomers. Increasing the temperature of the foam particles can be carried out for one or multiple iterations. The disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that exhibit differing degrees of fusion between the foam particles, thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear are provided. In various aspects, the methods comprise utilizing additive manufacturing methods with foam particles. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing methods comprise increasing the temperature of a plurality of foam particles with actinic radiation under conditions effective to fuse a portion of the plurality of foam particles comprising one or more thermoplastic elastomers. Increasing the temperature of the foam particles can be carried out for one or multiple iterations. The disclosed methods can be used to manufacturer articles with sub-regions that exhibit differing degrees of fusion between the foam particles, thereby resulting in sub-regions with different properties such as density, resilience, and/or flexural modulus. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object includes a support assembly having a build platform, a track extending through a build area, and a deposition mechanism mounted on the track and configured for producing the three-dimensional object in a layer-by-layer technique. The deposition mechanism includes a carriage moveable along the track, a supply of a flowable material mounted on the carriage, a roller in communication with the flowable material, where the roller is rotatably mounted on the carriage and configured for rotating to carry the flowable resin to an application for application to produce the object, and an exposure device mounted on the carriage. The exposure device emits electromagnetic waves to an exposure site to solidify the applied flowable material to produce the object. The roller is permeable to the electromagnetic waves, such that the waves pass through the roller in traveling from the exposure device to the exposure site.

An example multi-dimensional component building system includes a first chamber having at least one base disposed therein, a second chamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first chamber through a first door, and a third chamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the second chamber through a second door. The second chamber is fluidly sealed from the first chamber if the first door is in a closed position. The second chamber is configured to receive the at least one base via a first transfer mechanism if the fluid parameters of the first chamber are approximately equal to the fluid parameters of the second chamber. The second chamber includes a directed heat source and a build-up material configured to form a component on the at least one base by melting or sintering. The third chamber is fluidly sealed from the second chamber if the first door is in a closed position. The third chamber is configured to receive the at least one base, having a formed component disposed thereon, via a second transfer mechanism if the second door is in an open position. The fluid parameters of the second chamber are not substantially affected by fluid communication with the first chamber or the third chamber.

A method of producing multiple batches of objects by stereolithography, includes the steps of: (a) dispensing an initial or subsequent batch of dual cure resin into a stereolithography apparatus (11), the resin including a light polymerizable component and a heat polymerizable component; (b) producing an intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in the apparatus (12), wherein the intermediate object retains excess resin on a surface thereof; then (c) separating excess resin from the intermediate object (13); (d) blending the excess resin with additional dual cure resin to produce a subsequent batch of dual cure resin (15); (e) repeating steps (a) through (c), and optionally repeating step (d), to produce additional object(s); and (f) baking the objects, together or separately, to produce multiple batches of objects (14).

A method of producing multiple batches of objects by stereolithography, includes the steps of: (a) dispensing an initial or subsequent batch of dual cure resin into a stereolithography apparatus (11), the resin including a light polymerizable component and a heat polymerizable component; (b) producing an intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in the apparatus (12), wherein the intermediate object retains excess resin on a surface thereof; then (c) separating excess resin from the intermediate object (13); (d) blending the excess resin with additional dual cure resin to produce a subsequent batch of dual cure resin (15); (e) repeating steps (a) through (c), and optionally repeating step (d), to produce additional object(s); and (f) baking the objects, together or separately, to produce multiple batches of objects (14).