A three-dimensional (3D) printer and method including a material cartridge receiver to hold a removable material cartridge to accept build material from the 3D printer and to make build material available from the material cartridge to the 3D printer for printing of the 3D object. A liquid cartridge receiver holds a removable liquid cartridge to make available print liquid from the liquid cartridge for a print assembly.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer and method including a material cartridge receiver to hold a removable material cartridge to accept build material from the 3D printer and to make build material available from the material cartridge to the 3D printer for printing of the 3D object. A liquid cartridge receiver holds a removable liquid cartridge to make available print liquid from the liquid cartridge for a print assembly.

An additive printing apparatus and method for printing an object. The additive printing apparatus includes a print area having a movable build plate and a light projector. The apparatus includes a first movable tray with a first resin and second movable tray with a second resin When the first movable tray is positioned in the print area, the build plate is moved toward the first resin and the light projector is activated to cure a portion of the first resin to form a first layer of the object. When the second movable tray is positioned in the print area, the build plate is moved toward the second resin and the light projector is activated to cure a portion of the second resin to form a second layer of the object.

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a container for storing a material for a printing system. The container has a channel structure for conveying the material, the channel structure providing an opening of the container and an axis of the channel structure defining an axial direction. The container also has a valve structure disposed within the channel structure. The valve structure is translatable within the channel structure between a proximal position and a distal position in the axial direction. The valve structure is non-rotatable relative to the channel structure about the axis of the channel structure. The valve structure is arranged to seal the channel structure when the valve structure is in the proximal position.

A removable window cassette (100) for a bottom-up stereolithography apparatus includes (a) a light-transmissive window (110) having a rigid bottom portion (112), a semipermeable top portion (114), and a fluid flow region therebetween; (b) a circumferential frame (120) surrounding said window and into which said window is recessed, said frame having a top portion, a bottom portion, and an internal wall portion (120C), said frame internal wall portion defining with said window semipermeable top portion a well into which a polymerizable liquid may be received; and (c) a plurality of clamp draw-in pins (140) connected to said frame bottom portion and extending downward therefrom; and (d) at least a first and second port (150A, 150B) connected to said frame bottom portion, with said first port in fluid communication with said second port through said window fluid flow region.

A supply container includes a housing and a pocket on to the housing to receive a chip. The supply container also includes an alignment component on the housing to align the pocket with a chip access device.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a selective solidification module to selectively solidify portions of successive layers of a build material on a build platform. The 3D printer also includes a cartridge receiver to hold a removable material cartridge that accepts material from the 3D printer and makes material available to the 3D printer for printing of the 3D object.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a selective solidification module to selectively solidify portions of successive layers of a build material on a build platform. The 3D printer also includes a cartridge receiver to hold a removable material cartridge that accepts material from the 3D printer and makes material available to the 3D printer for printing of the 3D object.

A retractable purging mechanism is preferably comprised of a bracket that is connectable to a 3D printer. An actuatable shaft is secured to the bracket and the shaft engages a rocker arm, which in turn engages a collecting tray and moves the collecting tray from a first position to a second position. The collecting tray is adapted to receive a material that is discarded when, for example, a different print colour is used in 3D printing. A sweeper is also provided, the sweeper connected to the collecting tray to remove the material from the collecting tray.

A method or apparatus for three-dimensionally printing. The method may comprise causing a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region using a focused energy source, and displacing the first material with a second material. The apparatus may comprise a container configured to hold a first material, a focused energy source configured to cause a phase change in a region of the first material by applying focused energy to the region, and an injector configured to displace the first material with a second material. The first material may comprise a yield stress material, which is a material exhibiting Herschel-Bulkley behavior. The yield stress material may comprise a soft granular gel. The second material may comprise one or more cells.