Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. Porosity of one or more predetermined portions of objects fabricated from an accumulation of liquid metal droplets ejected using magnetohydrodynamic force can be controlled to form interfaces between support structures and parts within the object. Higher porosity along the interfaces, as compared to porosity along the support structures and the parts, can be useful for facilitating separation of the parts from the support structures.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal from a nozzle along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. Electrodes used to deliver electric current across a firing chamber of the nozzle are formed of the same material as the liquid metal being ejected from the nozzle. For example, respective interfaces between the electrodes and the liquid metal can be molten material. Forming the electrodes and the liquid metal of the same material can facilitate, for example, ejecting liquid metals having high melt temperatures.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal from a nozzle along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. A feeder system can provide a continuous or substantially continuous supply of a solid metal to the nozzle to facilitate a correspondingly continuous or substantially continuous process for ejecting liquid metal as part of a commercially viable manufacturing process.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. Magnets used to form the magnetohydrodynamic forces are thermally managed to facilitate directing strong magnetic fields into liquid metals at high temperatures. Such strong magnetic fields can be useful for imparting, under otherwise equivalent conditions, higher magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal being ejected from a nozzle to form an object.

A valve jet printer includes a solenoid coil and a plunger rod having a magnetically susceptible shank. A first end of the shank and at least a portion of the shank are received within a bore of the solenoid coil. The printer also includes a nozzle including an orifice extending therethrough and a spring biasing a second end of the shank toward the nozzle. The second end of the plunger rod includes a tip formed of perfluoroelastomer (FFKM). The second end of the shank includes a cup-shaped cavity having a convex bottom and a circular side. The tip includes a concave base and an annular flange. In an assembled state, the concave base of the tip contacts the convex bottom of the cup-shaped cavity, and the end of the circular side opposite the convex bottom is rolled over the annular flange thereby securing the tip in the cup-shaped cavity.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional bioprinter for fabricating cellular constructs such as tissues and organs using electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at or above 405 nm. The bioprinter includes a material deposition device comprising a cartridge for receiving and holding a composition which contains biomaterial that cures after exposure to EMR. The bioprinter also includes an EMR module that emits EMR at a wavelength of about 405 nm or higher. Also provided is a bioprinter cartridge which contains cells and a material curable at a wavelength of about 405 nm or greater. The cells are present in a chamber and are extruded through an orifice to form the cellular construct.

An actuator device, particularly for ink-jet heads, comprising: two or more electromagnetic actuators or solenoids (S), each comprising a ferromagnetic core (2), and a conductive winding or coil (4), arranged concentrically to the ferromagnetic core (2); a containment body (5), which encloses the electromagnetic actuators (S); an insulator element (1) for each solenoid (S). Each insulator element (1) is made of a magnetic material and is disposed at least partially in proximity of a respective solenoid (S).

A nozzle for ink-jet printers, comprising a main body (2) and a through hole (3), arranged through the main body (2), which has a surface (4). At least the surface (4) of the through hole (3) is made of an elastic material.

An element substrate, comprises: a plurality of printing elements configured to discharge liquid; a plurality of first driving elements disposed in correspondence with the plurality of printing elements and configured to drive the plurality of printing elements; a plurality of heating elements configured to heat the element substrate; a plurality of second driving elements disposed in correspondence with the plurality of heating elements and configured to drive the plurality of heating elements; and a delay unit that delays timing of driving the plurality of second driving elements to drive the plurality of second driving elements at a predetermined time difference when driving the plurality of second driving elements simultaneously.

A method for operating a printer can include draining a print material from a printer, placing a sacrificial metal into the printer, ejecting the sacrificial metal from a nozzle of the printer, and cooling to printer to a temperature that is below a melting point of the print material and the sacrificial metal. The print material can be or include aluminum and the sacrificial metal can be or include tin. The print material can be drained from the printer when the print material is in molten form, for example, from about 600? C. to about 2000? C. The sacrificial metal can be ejected from the nozzle at a temperature above the melting point of the sacrificial metal but below the melting point of the print material, for example, below about 300? C. The method can reduce or eliminate cracking of various printer structures such as the nozzle during a shutdown or cooling of the printer.