A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for forming an image on a three dimensional (3D) object are disclosed. For example, the method includes, detecting the 3D object that is formed from a first material is positioned on a movable bed, providing a bed of a powder of a second material on the movable bed around the 3D object, vibrating the bed of powder to provide a level surface of the powder, sintering a portion of the bed of the powder onto the 3D object, moving the 3D object and repeating the providing, the vibrating, the sintering and the moving to form the image onto the 3D object.

An apparatus and device for creating a vertical strengthening feature within a 3D printed article of manufacture for improving mechanical performance in the Z-direction. Fill material is deposited in voids vertically crossing multiple layers during the build of 3D printing. The device includes a penetrating extension that fits within the void to create a vertical strengthening feature via heat and/or extruded fill material. The size and/or movement of the heated extension can impact the void side walls to reflow the build material and blend the layers together within the void side walls.

A method for making a three-dimensional (3D) part with an electrostatographic based additive manufacturing system includes establishing first and second control parameter profiles, establishing a transfusion sequence, and transfusing n+m layers on a bonding region of previously accumulated layers of the 3D part according to the transfusion sequence. The first and second control parameter profiles each include a different combination of temperature and pressure parameters usable to transfuse a single layer of the 3D part. The transfusion sequence specifies the use of each of the first and second control parameter profiles in a specified order. A total thickness of the n+m layers is less than a thermal diffusion depth. The transfusion step includes transfusing n layers according to the first control parameter profile, and, after transfusing then layers, transfusing m layers according to the second control parameter profile.

A method for making a three-dimensional (3D) part with an electrostatographic based additive manufacturing system includes establishing first and second control parameter profiles, establishing a transfusion sequence, and transfusing n+m layers on a bonding region of previously accumulated layers of the 3D part according to the transfusion sequence. The first and second control parameter profiles each include a different combination of temperature and pressure parameters usable to transfuse a single layer of the 3D part. The transfusion sequence specifies the use of each of the first and second control parameter profiles in a specified order. A total thickness of the n+m layers is less than a thermal diffusion depth. The transfusion step includes transfusing n layers according to the first control parameter profile, and, after transfusing then layers, transfusing m layers according to the second control parameter profile.

Embodiments of the invention allow performing an additive manufacturing process using a base object. Some embodiments enable placement of a three-dimensional base object inside a three-dimensional printer and print on the base object to produce a three-dimensional product. One exemplary embodiment is a method including: obtaining a representation of a three-dimensional physical object as a base object; obtaining a representation of a three-dimensional physical object as a product producible by adding layers of material on the base object. A representation of a support structure configured to retain the base object position within an additive manufacturing apparatus is determined, and the support structure is produced using an additive manufacturing process. Alternatively, a representation of an on-object structure determined and the on-object structure is produced using an additive manufacturing process by adding one or more layers of material on the base object.

A molding device that molds a stereoscopic molding object through a layered molding method, where after molding of at least one molding object is started and before the molding of the at least one molding object is completed, molding of another molding object is started. The molding device 10, for example, includes an ejection head, and a molding object supporter, the molding object supporter includes, for example, a plurality of molding tables, at least an opposing surface of each molding table is independently movable, an ejection head ejects a material toward the opposing surface of at least one molding table to mold the molding object on the molding table, and at least the opposing surface of the molding table on which the molding object is molded is moved in a perpendicular direction to move the molding object in the perpendicular direction.

A molding device that molds a stereoscopic molding object through a layered molding method, where after molding of at least one molding object is started and before the molding of the at least one molding object is completed, molding of another molding object is started. The molding device 10, for example, includes an ejection head, and a molding object supporter, the molding object supporter includes, for example, a plurality of molding tables, at least an opposing surface of each molding table is independently movable, an ejection head ejects a material toward the opposing surface of at least one molding table to mold the molding object on the molding table, and at least the opposing surface of the molding table on which the molding object is molded is moved in a perpendicular direction to move the molding object in the perpendicular direction.

Provided is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a stage, a constraining body, a supply nozzle, an irradiation unit, and a movement mechanism. The constraining body includes a surface including a linear region along a first direction, and is opposed to the stage so that the linear region is the closest to the stage. The supply nozzle supplies a material curable by energy of an energy ray into a slit region between the stage and the linear region. The irradiation unit irradiates the supplied material with the energy ray through the constraining body. The movement mechanism moves the stage relative to the constraining body along a second direction for forming a cured layer of the material for one layer, and moves the constraining body and the stage relative to each other along a stacking direction for stacking the cured layers.

Provided is a three-dimensional modeling apparatus including a stage, a constraining body, a supply nozzle, an irradiation unit, and a movement mechanism. The constraining body includes a surface including a linear region along a first direction, and is opposed to the stage so that the linear region is the closest to the stage. The supply nozzle supplies a material curable by energy of an energy ray into a slit region between the stage and the linear region. The irradiation unit irradiates the supplied material with the energy ray through the constraining body. The movement mechanism moves the stage relative to the constraining body along a second direction for forming a cured layer of the material for one layer, and moves the constraining body and the stage relative to each other along a stacking direction for stacking the cured layers.

A method of producing a 3D part using a selective deposition based additive manufacturing system can include developing a first layer using at least one electrostatography engine, determining a first cross-track offset distance between an average cross-track symmetry line of the first layer and a centerline of a transfer medium, transferring the first layer to the transfer medium such that the average cross-track symmetry line of the first layer is aligned with the centerline of the transfer medium, moving a build platform relative to the transfer medium in the cross-track direction to align the first layer on a part build surface, and transfusing the first layer on the build platform using a transfusion assembly to build the part in a layer-by-layer manner. The first layer comprises at least one of a part material and a support material. The first cross-track offset distance is measured in a cross-track direction perpendicular to an in-track direction of movement of the transfer medium.