A lamination molding apparatus includes: a material layer forming device that forms a material layer in a molding region; an irradiator that sinters or melts the material layer to form a solidified layer; and a cooling device that cools, to a cooling temperature, at least a part including an upper surface of a solidified body. The material layer forming device includes: a base having the molding region, a recoater head disposed on the base, a recoater head driving device that reciprocates the recoater head in a horizontal direction, and a blade that is arranged on the recoater head and that levels material powder to form the material layer. The cooling device includes: a cooling body that is controlled to the cooling temperature and comes into contact with the upper surface of the solidified body, and a mounting member that mounts the cooling body to the recoater head.

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.

Example systems relate to recoater movement. A non-transitory machine readable medium may contain instructions executable by a processor. The instructions may include instructions to change an action of a recoater in response to a determination that the recoater has reached a first location of a build area comprising build material. Instructions may further include instructions to lift the recoater in response to a determination that the recoater has reached a second location of the build area. Instructions may additionally include instructions to move the recoater over the second location at the lifted position, wherein the second location includes a build-up of the build material.

Example systems relate to recoater movement. A non-transitory machine readable medium may contain instructions executable by a processor. The instructions may include instructions to change an action of a recoater in response to a determination that the recoater has reached a first location of a build area comprising build material. Instructions may further include instructions to lift the recoater in response to a determination that the recoater has reached a second location of the build area. Instructions may additionally include instructions to move the recoater over the second location at the lifted position, wherein the second location includes a build-up of the build material.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first vertically-extending support leg, a second vertically-extending support leg, and a gantry supported on the first and second support legs. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a work table movably supported beneath the gantry, a print head supported on the gantry, and a trim head supported on the gantry with the print head.

Apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, the apparatus (1) comprising: a build bed (201) having a build area (190), wherein successive layers of said three-dimensional object are formed in the build bed (201); a powder distribution sled (300) operable to distribute a layer of powder within the build area (190), the powder distribution sled (300) being driveable in a first direction along a first axis, across the build area (190), and driveable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the first axis; and a print sled (350) operable to deposit a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder within the build area (190) to define the cross section of said object in said layer, the print sled (350) being driveable in the first direction along a second axis across the build area, and driveable in the second direction along the second axis; wherein the first axis is parallel to, or coaxial with, the second axis; wherein the print sled (350) comprises one or more droplet deposition heads (370) for depositing the fluid, a first radiation source assembly (L1), and a second radiation source assembly (L2); wherein the powder distribution sled (300) comprises a powder distribution device (320) for distributing the powder, a third radiation source assembly (L3) and a fourth radiation source assembly (L4); and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth radiation source assemblies is operable to both preheat and sinter powder within the build area (190). A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder using such apparatus is also provided.

Apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, the apparatus (1) comprising: a build bed (201) having a build area (190), wherein successive layers of said three-dimensional object are formed in the build bed (201); a powder distribution sled (300) operable to distribute a layer of powder within the build area (190), the powder distribution sled (300) being driveable in a first direction along a first axis, across the build area (190), and driveable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the first axis; and a print sled (350) operable to deposit a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder within the build area (190) to define the cross section of said object in said layer, the print sled (350) being driveable in the first direction along a second axis across the build area, and driveable in the second direction along the second axis; wherein the first axis is parallel to, or coaxial with, the second axis; wherein the print sled (350) comprises one or more droplet deposition heads (370) for depositing the fluid, a first radiation source assembly (L1), and a second radiation source assembly (L2); wherein the powder distribution sled (300) comprises a powder distribution device (320) for distributing the powder, a third radiation source assembly (L3) and a fourth radiation source assembly (L4); and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth radiation source assemblies is operable to both preheat and sinter powder within the build area (190). A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder using such apparatus is also provided.

A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a plurality of tension vectors to be generated within the structure, and to generate a plan for manufacturing the structure. The plan may include tool paths that arrange continuous fibers within the structure to generate the plurality of tension vectors. The processor may also be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to follow the plan and manufacture the structure.

A high-speed additive manufacturing apparatus includes a main body, a sintering module, a product carrying member, a raw material carrying member, and a raw material wiper. The main body includes a printing tank and a raw material tank adjacent to the printing tank. The sintering module is arranged on the main body. The sintering module includes a plurality of sintering light source assemblies. Each of the sintered light source assemblies has a light beam emitting end. The light beam emitting end emits a sintering light beam. The light beam emitting ends of the sintering light source assemblies are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each light beam emitting end in one row is unaligned with the light beam emitting end in adjacent rows along a direction in which the light beam emitting end moves.