In example implementations, a spreading blade is provided. The spreading blade includes a body portion, an ultrasonic vibration source, and a kicker. The ultrasonic vibration source is coupled to a top portion of the body portion to apply a vibration along a cross-sectional length of the body portion. The kicker is coupled to a side facing a process direction at a bottom end of the body portion. The kicker comprises a tip formed by a combination of two angled surfaces that extend from a lateral side of the body portion.

In example implementations, a spreading blade is provided. The spreading blade includes a body portion, an ultrasonic vibration source, and a kicker. The ultrasonic vibration source is coupled to a top portion of the body portion to apply a vibration along a cross-sectional length of the body portion. The kicker is coupled to a side facing a process direction at a bottom end of the body portion. The kicker comprises a tip formed by a combination of two angled surfaces that extend from a lateral side of the body portion.

The present disclosure various apparatuses, and systems for 3D printing. The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, software and systems for a step and repeat energy irradiation process; controlling material characteristics and/or deformation of the 3D object; reducing deformation in a printed 3D object; and planarizing a material bed.

The present disclosure various apparatuses, and systems for 3D printing. The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, software and systems for a step and repeat energy irradiation process; controlling material characteristics and/or deformation of the 3D object; reducing deformation in a printed 3D object; and planarizing a material bed.

A system includes a partial enclosure configured to hold resin. The system further includes one or more structures configured to at least partially cover the resin. The one or more structures are configured to prevent evaporation of the resin. The system further includes a build platform configured to support an object that is being formed from layers of the resin. A first blade is configured to provide the layers of the resin to form the object on the build platform.

A system includes a partial enclosure configured to hold resin. The system further includes one or more structures configured to at least partially cover the resin. The one or more structures are configured to prevent evaporation of the resin. The system further includes a build platform configured to support an object that is being formed from layers of the resin. A first blade is configured to provide the layers of the resin to form the object on the build platform.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a build platform, a movement mechanism, a coating module, a consolidation module, and a controller. The controller is configured to (1) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a new powder layer over an upper surface of the build platform or powder, (2) operate the consolidation module to selectively consolidate the new powder layer, and (3) repeat (1) and (2) until a three-dimensional article is fabricated from a plurality of layers. Step (1) includes, at least one of the plurality of layers (a) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a first sublayer of powder having a thickness T1 over the upper surface, and (b) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a second sublayer of powder having at thickness T2 over the first sublayer of powder. T2 is less than 20% of T1.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a build platform, a movement mechanism, a coating module, a consolidation module, and a controller. The controller is configured to (1) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a new powder layer over an upper surface of the build platform or powder, (2) operate the consolidation module to selectively consolidate the new powder layer, and (3) repeat (1) and (2) until a three-dimensional article is fabricated from a plurality of layers. Step (1) includes, at least one of the plurality of layers (a) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a first sublayer of powder having a thickness T1 over the upper surface, and (b) operate the movement mechanism and the coating module to deposit a second sublayer of powder having at thickness T2 over the first sublayer of powder. T2 is less than 20% of T1.

A three-dimensional object shaping method includes the steps of a powder layer forming step, a sliding step of a squeegee on the supplied powder, and a sintering step of irradiating the powder layer, all successively repeated, wherein after dividing shaping regions into a plurality of laminating units, each laminating unit of the plurality of laminating units is divided into an inside region including a maximum prearranged sintering region, and an outside region not including the maximum prearranged sintering region, and wherein the squeegee sliding speed in the outside region is set to be greater than the sliding speed in the inside region.

A three-dimensional object shaping method includes the steps of a powder layer forming step, a sliding step of a squeegee on the supplied powder, and a sintering step of irradiating the powder layer, all successively repeated, wherein after dividing shaping regions into a plurality of laminating units, each laminating unit of the plurality of laminating units is divided into an inside region including a maximum prearranged sintering region, and an outside region not including the maximum prearranged sintering region, and wherein the squeegee sliding speed in the outside region is set to be greater than the sliding speed in the inside region.