The invention relates to a material feeding device. The material feeding device according to the invention to be used in a material processing device has a material feeding channel with an output end facing a processing site during operation of the material feeding device, and is characterized in that the material feeding device has at least one microchannel.

Disclosed are a 3D printing device with an extrusion port having a variable size and a control method thereof. The 3D printing device includes: a feeding portion with an inlet and an outlet for a material; a discharging portion with an extrusion port, where the extrusion port is capable of being in fluid communication with the outlet of the feeding portion to extrude the material, and the extrusion port is partitioned into a plurality of hole channels; and a control portion, configured to control, in a process of filling a single-communication region by utilizing the extrusion port, a relative movement between the feeding portion and the discharging portion, to change a quantity of hole channels in communication with the outlet of the feeding portion in the plurality of hole channels, thereby changing a size of the extrusion port.

In a three-dimensional shaped object manufacturing device, when a unit is moved in a forward direction, powder is supplied from a first supply portion, a powder layer is formed by a first layer forming portion, a liquid is discharged to a shaping region from a head, and a shaping table is moved in a direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid is ended and before a second layer forming portion faces the shaping region, and when the unit is moved in a backward direction, the powder is supplied from a second supply portion, the powder layer is formed by the second layer forming portion, the liquid is discharged to the shaping region from the head, and the shaping table is moved in the direction separating from the unit after discharging the liquid to the shaping region is ended and before the first layer forming portion faces the shaping region.

An apparatus for the manufacture of an object, the apparatus having a print bed, a stencil, a heater arranged to heat the stencil, and a squeegee. The stencil comprises one or more apertures and is positionable over the print bed. The squeegee is movable to spread a printing material across the stencil and to thereby force printing material through the stencil aperture(s). One or both of the stencil and the print bed is movable to adjust the spacing between the stencil and the print bed.

An apparatus for the manufacture of an object, the apparatus having a print bed, a stencil, a heater arranged to heat the stencil, and a squeegee. The stencil comprises one or more apertures and is positionable over the print bed. The squeegee is movable to spread a printing material across the stencil and to thereby force printing material through the stencil aperture(s). One or both of the stencil and the print bed is movable to adjust the spacing between the stencil and the print bed.

A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

A plasticizing apparatus for plasticizing a material to form a molten material includes a screw in a columnar shape having a groove formed face, in which a material flow channel including a groove portion to be supplied with the material is formed, and a barrel having a screw opposed face, which is a face opposed to the groove formed face, and in which a sending-out hole for sending out the molten material is formed at a center, and a heating portion heating the material. The material flow channel has a recess provided at a center of the groove formed face, and the groove portion extending in a spiral shape toward an outer circumference of the groove formed face from the recess, and a heat insulating portion having a lower thermal conductivity than an outer circumferential portion in the screw is provided in at least a part of an inner circumferential portion including the recess in the screw.

A plasticizing apparatus for plasticizing a material to form a molten material includes a screw in a columnar shape having a groove formed face, in which a material flow channel including a groove portion to be supplied with the material is formed, and a barrel having a screw opposed face, which is a face opposed to the groove formed face, and in which a sending-out hole for sending out the molten material is formed at a center, and a heating portion heating the material. The material flow channel has a recess provided at a center of the groove formed face, and the groove portion extending in a spiral shape toward an outer circumference of the groove formed face from the recess, and a heat insulating portion having a lower thermal conductivity than an outer circumferential portion in the screw is provided in at least a part of an inner circumferential portion including the recess in the screw.

Provided are a material feeding mechanism, a multi-material unit and a 3D printing system. The material feeding mechanism includes a main body, an unloading clutch assembly connected to the main body, and a driver assembly configured to drive the unloading clutch assembly to be switchable between a first position relative to the main body and a second position relative to the main body. In the first position, the unloading clutch assembly is drivingly coupled to a reel to rotate the reel under driving of the driver assembly to wind a wire around the reel. In the second position, the unloading clutch assembly is drivingly separated from the reel.