The present invention combines three steps of the Bound Powder Deposition (BPD) process into a single real-time Additive Manufacturing (AM) process to improve print properties while decreasing both manufacturing times and associated costs.

An additive manufacturing system, a build platform and a method of operating are provided. The build platform includes an interface section configured to couple with the additive manufacturing system. A base section is coupled to the interface section. A build volume is provided having at least one layer having at least one individually addressable element that includes at least one of a feature characteristic or functional characteristic.

An additive manufacturing system, a build platform and a method of operating are provided. A method includes receiving data defining a build platform for fabricating a target object using an additive manufacturing system. The method further includes generating the build platform based on the data.

An additive manufacturing system, a build platform and a method of operating are provided. The build platform includes a build volume section including at least one feature or functional element. The build platform further includes a controller to individually control the at least one functional element.

A system is disclosed that includes an end effector and a support configured to move the end effector. The support may include a first link, a second link rotationally connected to the first link at a joint, and a motor rigidly mounted to the first link and configured to drive rotation of the second link relative to the first link. The support may also include a sole encoder associated with the joint and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the first link relative to the second link. The system may further include a controller in communication with the sole encoder and the motor. The controller may be configured to selectively trim operation of the motor based only on the signal.

An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.

An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.

A method of additive layer manufacture includes the steps of successively depositing layers of fusible powder material in overlying relationship and introducing energy, such as by an electron beam, into each deposited layer to selectively melt material in the layer so as to fuse the melted material together and to already fused material of a layer thereunder in order to produce a three-dimensional solid article in successive cross-sectional layers. In order to monitor layer quality, structured light defining a fringe pattern is projected onto each deposited layer before and/or after melting of material in that layer and the fringe pattern on each layer is imaged from a perspective different from that of the projection so as to reveal disturbance of the pattern by topographical features of the layer.

Disclosed is a novel 3D-printer system for printing elastically deformable rubber parts such as rubber seals where the uncured rubber source material is partially cured before printing each rubber layer of the rubber part. Furthermore, disclosed is a novel 3D printing method for 3D-printing an elastically deformable rubber body using the 3D-printer system.

A printing system for producing at least one three dimensional (3D) printed part is described. The printing system includes a deposition system configured to continuously deposit a layer onto a cylinder to outwardly extend a diameter of the cylinder, wherein the layer comprises a first pattern. The printing system also includes a rotating system configured to rotate the cylinder, and a control system configured to synchronize the deposition system with the cylinder.