The present disclosure is drawn to fluid sets, material sets, and 3-dimensional printing systems. A fluid set can include a pretreat composition that includes a salt of an alkali metal with bromide or iodide. The fluid set can also include a conductive fusing agent composition including a transition metal for fusing thermoplastic powder when exposed to electromagnetic radiation.

Some examples include a fusing system for an additive manufacturing machine including a carriage movable across a build zone along the x-axis, a thermic source mounted to the carriage, and a roller mounted to the carriage adjacent to the thermic source. A longitudinal section of an exterior surface of the roller is exposed to indirect heat from the thermic source. The roller is controlled to rotate during and outside of a spreading operation of the build material. The carriage is to maintain the roller within a radiative heat transfer area of the thermic source.

In some examples, an additive manufacturing process may be operated by a method that includes depositing a plurality of preliminary layers of build material over a build surface and applying thermal energy governed by closed-loop control to heat the preliminary layers. The method includes analyzing a temperature distribution across a layer of the preliminary layers to map the locations of any hot spots relative to the build surface. The method includes selecting a spray pattern to apply a cooling agent to the mapped locations.

A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “non-solidification zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The non-solidification zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor tends to cause the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardenable material and the film, which distorts the resulting three-dimensional object. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the flexible film and eliminate or minimize such deformation.

A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “non-solidification zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The non-solidification zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor tends to cause the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardenable material and the film, which distorts the resulting three-dimensional object. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the flexible film and eliminate or minimize such deformation.

Methods and apparatus for the fabrication of solid three-dimensional objects from liquid polymerizable materials at high resolution. A material is coated on a film non-digitally, excess material is removed digitally, by laser, leaving an image of a layer to be printed, and the image is then engaged with existing portions of an object being fabricated and exposed to a non-digital UV curing light source. Since the only part of the process that is digital is the material removal, and this part is done by laser, the speed of printing and the robustness of the manufacturing process is improved significantly over conventional additive or 3D fabrication techniques.

A three-dimensional, additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The first and second printer modules form sequences of first patterned single-layer objects and second patterned single-layer objects on the first and second carrier substrates, respectively. The patterned single-layer objects are assembled into a three-dimensional object on the assembly plate of the assembly station. A controller controls the sequences and patterns of the patterned single-layer objects formed at the printer modules, and a sequence of assembly of the first patterned single-layer objects and the second patterned single-layer objects into the three-dimensional object on the assembly plate. The first transfer module transfers the first patterned single-layer objects from the first carrier substrate to the assembly apparatus in a first transfer zone and the second transfer module transfers the second patterned single-layer objects from the second carrier substrate to the assembly apparatus in a second transfer zone. The first and second printer modules are configured to deposit first and second materials under first and second deposition conditions, respectively. The first and second materials are different and/or the first and second deposition conditions are different.

In an example, a method includes providing a build material. Print agent comprising colorant may be applied to a first portion of the build material to be fused in additive manufacturing, wherein the print agent is applied according to a target color for the first portion. A combination of a fusion inhibiting agent and colorant may be applied to a second portion of the build material, wherein the print agent is applied according to the target color of the first portion and the second portion is adjacent to the first portion. The method may further include heating the build material by exposing the build material to radiation so as to cause fusing of the first portion.

In an example, a method includes providing a build material. Print agent comprising colorant may be applied to a first portion of the build material to be fused in additive manufacturing, wherein the print agent is applied according to a target color for the first portion. A combination of a fusion inhibiting agent and colorant may be applied to a second portion of the build material, wherein the print agent is applied according to the target color of the first portion and the second portion is adjacent to the first portion. The method may further include heating the build material by exposing the build material to radiation so as to cause fusing of the first portion.

A fabrication apparatus for fabricating ceramic structures of controlled size and composition is provided. The fabrication apparatus includes an additive manufacturing machine configured to dispense preceramic materials in a printed pattern, the printed pattern corresponding to the ceramic structures of the controlled size and composition, a radiation emitter configured to emit curing radiation toward the printed pattern to cure the preceramic materials and a lamp element configured to shine light on the preceramic materials to convert the preceramic materials to ceramics.