The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing three-dimensional models using a radiation-emitting set and optionally a specific arrangement of radiation-emitting units.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing three-dimensional models using a radiation-emitting set and optionally a specific arrangement of radiation-emitting units.

The objective of the present invention is to form a printed article rapidly and simply, without using a support material, in three-dimensional printing. A three-dimensional printing support device (1) is provided with: a variable table (2) which includes an installation surface (10), and which has a configuration enabling the shape of the installation surface (10) to be freely modified; a drive unit (3) for driving the variable table (2) to change the shape of the installation surface (10); and a control unit (4) for acquiring shape data relating to the shape of a printed article, which is a printing target, and controlling the drive unit (3) on the basis of the acquired shape data such that the shape of the installation surface (10) is a shape corresponding to the surface shape of the printed article.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for additively manufacturing a product in a layer-by-layer sequence, wherein the product is formed using powder particles deposited on an interface layer of a substrate. A laser generates first and second beam components. The second beam component has a higher power level and a shorter duration than the first beam component. A mask creates a 2D optical pattern in which only select portions of the second beam components can irradiate the powder particles. The first beam component heats the powder particles close to a melting point, where the particles experience surface tension forces relative to the interface layer. While the particles are heated, the second beam component further heats the particles and also melts the interface layer before the surface tension forces can act on and distort the particles, enabling the particles and the interface layer are able to bond together.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for additively manufacturing a product in a layer-by-layer sequence, wherein the product is formed using powder particles deposited on an interface layer of a substrate. A laser generates first and second beam components. The second beam component has a higher power level and a shorter duration than the first beam component. A mask creates a 2D optical pattern in which only select portions of the second beam components can irradiate the powder particles. The first beam component heats the powder particles close to a melting point, where the particles experience surface tension forces relative to the interface layer. While the particles are heated, the second beam component further heats the particles and also melts the interface layer before the surface tension forces can act on and distort the particles, enabling the particles and the interface layer are able to bond together.

A 3D screen-printing apparatus for producing a shaped article includes: a printing table; a printing screen with a printing mask having a layer geometry for producing the shaped article layer by layer; an application unit to apply a printing material to the printing screen and to work it into the printing masks to produce a shaped-article layer; and a first positioning unit configured to increase the distance between the printing table and the printing screen by way of a first relative movement after the production of each shaped-article layer. The printing screen has printing masks, and the 3D screen-printing apparatus has a second positioning unit configured to perform a second relative movement between the printing table and the printing screen so different printing masks of the one printing screen can be positioned one after the other at a shaped-article position where an individual shaped article is to be built.

A 3D screen-printing apparatus for producing a shaped article includes: a printing table; a printing screen with a printing mask having a layer geometry for producing the shaped article layer by layer; an application unit to apply a printing material to the printing screen and to work it into the printing masks to produce a shaped-article layer; and a first positioning unit configured to increase the distance between the printing table and the printing screen by way of a first relative movement after the production of each shaped-article layer. The printing screen has printing masks, and the 3D screen-printing apparatus has a second positioning unit configured to perform a second relative movement between the printing table and the printing screen so different printing masks of the one printing screen can be positioned one after the other at a shaped-article position where an individual shaped article is to be built.

A system and method for nanofabrication that can enable complex three-dimensional nanostructures comprising: setting up a gel scaffold; patterning the gel scaffold with a photosensitive patterning material, wherein light is used to pattern the photosensitive patterning material into the gel scaffold to create the shape of a desired construct (i.e., creating a latent pattern of the desired constructs shape); depositing build material onto the latent pattern, thereby creating the construct; and shrinking the construct to the desired size. The system and method leverage the photosensitivity of the photosensitive molecule and high precision of light positioning for the fabrication of a high-resolution construct. The system and method may enable the fabrication of nano-constructs of simple and complex material designs, wherein the constructs may implement multiple distinct build materials and gradients of build materials.

A system and method for nanofabrication that can enable complex three-dimensional nanostructures comprising: setting up a gel scaffold; patterning the gel scaffold with a photosensitive patterning material, wherein light is used to pattern the photosensitive patterning material into the gel scaffold to create the shape of a desired construct (i.e., creating a latent pattern of the desired constructs shape); depositing build material onto the latent pattern, thereby creating the construct; and shrinking the construct to the desired size. The system and method leverage the photosensitivity of the photosensitive molecule and high precision of light positioning for the fabrication of a high-resolution construct. The system and method may enable the fabrication of nano-constructs of simple and complex material designs, wherein the constructs may implement multiple distinct build materials and gradients of build materials.

A 3-dimensional object-forming apparatus is provided which may avoid lowering of irradiation efficiency of laser light due to fumes and so forth while avoiding lowering of quality of the formed object. A shroud 20 includes an inside partition wall portion 21 that demarcates an inside space S.sub.1 which extends from one end opening 202 to another end opening 206, and an outside partition wall portion 22 that opens in the other end opening 206 of a shroud 20 on an outside of the inside space S.sub.1 and demarcates, together with the inside partition wall portion 21, an outside space S.sub.2 which closes in a position closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206 of the shroud. A ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in the other end opening 206 of the shroud 20 is larger than the ventilation area of the inside space S.sub.1 in an upstream portion closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206.