Techniques for force sensing in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device may include a force sensor configured to measure a force applied to a build platform during fabrication. A length of time taken for a layer of material to separate from a surface other than the build platform to which it is adhered may be determined based on measurements from the force sensor. Subsequent additive fabrication operations, such as subsequent motion of the build platform, may be adapted based on the determined length of time.

A 3D printing apparatus of the bottom-up photo-curing type, including a tank containing a liquid photo-curing material and at least one source of a radiation designed to obtain the photo-curing of the liquid photo-curing material, the bottom of the tank including an elastic membrane of non-stick material and transparent to the radiation of the light source, the tank supported on a support plate, the support plate includes, in the portion below the bottom of the tank, a mobile support element, which is able to move by translating and/or rotating in the plane where it is positioned with one or more perforated or lowered portions. The embodiments also relate to a method of using the apparatus for 3D printing.

A 3D printing apparatus of the bottom-up photo-curing type, including a tank containing a liquid photo-curing material and at least one source of a radiation designed to obtain the photo-curing of the liquid photo-curing material, the bottom of the tank including an elastic membrane of non-stick material and transparent to the radiation of the light source, the tank supported on a support plate, the support plate includes, in the portion below the bottom of the tank, a mobile support element, which is able to move by translating and/or rotating in the plane where it is positioned with one or more perforated or lowered portions. The embodiments also relate to a method of using the apparatus for 3D printing.

The invention comprises a 3D printer for additively manufacturing a multilayer component. The 3D printer comprises at least two separate dispensers (2) coating a conveyor belt (3) with respectively different raw material, a manufacturing unit in which at least part of the raw material is added to the component (8) as a new layer, at least two separate recovery devices (12) for selectively recovering the respectively different raw material, which is not consumed when a layer is added to the component (8), and returning the raw material to the respective associated dispenser (2) and conveyor belt (3) which transports the raw material from the dispenser (2) to the manufacturing unit and further to the recovery device (12) in the lateral direction.

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.

Embodiments herein relate to 3D printing. In an embodiment, a method for printing an article using a selective toner electrophotographic process (“STEP”) includes successively depositing multiple layers of part material and support material, the layers deposited substantially parallel to a first plane; wherein: a) the multiple layers of part material and support material extend in a perpendicular to the first plane; and b) at least some of the layers of part material and support material are separated from each other to form a gap between the layers of part material and layers of support material; application of heat and pressure to the part material and support material such that a portion of the part material and support material flows into and at least partially fills the gap between the part material and support material.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a build module. A feed module is configured to support a first portion of a resin support. The first portion of the resin support is supported by a feed mounting panel. A take-up module is configured to support a second portion of the resin support. The second portion of the resin support is supported by a take-up mounting panel and is positioned on an opposing side of the radiant energy device from the feed module. An adjustment assembly is configured to adjust a position of at least one of a feed mandrel within the feed module or a take-up mandrel within the take-up module.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first print module includes a first stage configured to hold a first component and a first radiant energy device. The resin support is configured to be positioned between the first stage and the first radiant energy device. A second print module includes a second stage configured to hold a second component and a second radiant energy device. The resin support is configured to be positioned between the second stage and the second radiant energy device. A control system is configured to translate the resin support based on a condition of the first print module and the second print module through the first print module and the second print module.

Provided herein are systems and processes to control multiple temperatures in additive manufacturing. Such temperature control adjusts polymer properties and facilitates processing of materials to form 3D objects. The systems and processes disclosed herein also facilitate the processing of typically difficult-to-process materials and deliver such materials to a photocuring zone configured to photopolymerize materials into 3 dimensional objects with a layer-by-layer process. Such processes can include the steps of heating a resin to a flowable temperature, applying the resin to a carrier, cooling the film to increase viscosity or to solidify the resin, and applying the film containing the resin onto an area being printed, then photocuring the film. Also provided herein are resins and related polymer materials having properties that are tunable with exposure to more than one temperature zone. The formed polymers can include multiple regions of polymer material, each independently having distinct properties. Processes and systems are also provided herein that are configured to produce polymeric materials having multiple regions with distinct properties from a single-component formulation.