A build plate supported on a movable carriage of a 3D printing machine includes a plurality of clamping surfaces that are engageable by a mechanical clamping system that includes a plurality of clamp assemblies mounted on the movable carriage. Each of the clamp assemblies is associated with a corresponding clamping surface and includes a clamping arm configured to rotate and translate to selectively engage the corresponding clamping surface, a follower arm configured to rotate, and a conversion mechanism configured to convert rotation of the follower arm to rotation and translation of the clamping arm. An actuation mechanism includes an actuation face, corresponding to each follower arm. The actuation mechanism is arranged to simultaneously exert a force against the follower arm of each of the clamp assemblies to rotate the follower arm as the carriage moves from a working station to an unloading station of the 3D printing machine. The conversion mechanism then converts the rotation of the follower arm of each clamping assembly to rotation and translation of the respective clamping arm to selectively and simultaneously engage and disengage the clamping surfaces of the build plate.

A felt gripper head contains two regions of felt material each on plates that slide and form a slight angle with respect to each other during engagement with a fibrous substrate material.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for the production of at least one desired 3D object. The 3D printer system (e.g., comprising a processing chamber, build module, or an unpacking station) described herein may retain a desired (e.g., inert) atmosphere around the material bed and/or 3D object at multiple 3D printing stages. The 3D printer described herein comprises one or more build modules that may have a controller separate from the controller of the processing chamber. The 3D printer described herein comprises a platform that may be automatically constructed. The invention(s) described herein may allow the 3D printing process to occur for a long time without operator intervention and/or down time.

The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

A print engine of an additive manufacturing system includes a print station configured to hold a removable cartridge containing powder. A laser engine is positioned to direct a one or two dimensional patterned laser beam into the removable cartridge. In some embodiments powder is produced at least in part with a magnetohydrodynamic system.

A print engine of an additive manufacturing system includes a print station configured to hold a removable cartridge containing powder. A laser engine is positioned to direct a one or two dimensional patterned laser beam into the removable cartridge. In some embodiments powder is produced at least in part with a magnetohydrodynamic system.

An expeditionary additive manufacturing (ExAM) system [10] for manufacturing metal parts [20] includes a mobile foundry system [12] configured to produce an alloy powder [14] from a feedstock [16], and an additive manufacturing system [18] configured to fabricate a part using the alloy powder [14]. The additive manufacturing system [18] includes a computer system [50] having parts data and machine learning programs in signal communication with a cloud service. The parts data [56] can include material specifications, drawings, process specifications, assembly instructions, and product verification requirements for the part [20]. An expeditionary additive manufacturing (ExAM) method for making metal parts [20] includes the steps of transporting the mobile foundry system [12] and the additive manufacturing system [18] to a desired location; making the alloy powder [14] at the location using the mobile foundry system; and building a part [20] at the location using the additive manufacturing system [18].

An expeditionary additive manufacturing (ExAM) system [10] for manufacturing metal parts [20] includes a mobile foundry system [12] configured to produce an alloy powder [14] from a feedstock [16], and an additive manufacturing system [18] configured to fabricate a part using the alloy powder [14]. The additive manufacturing system [18] includes a computer system [50] having parts data and machine learning programs in signal communication with a cloud service. The parts data [56] can include material specifications, drawings, process specifications, assembly instructions, and product verification requirements for the part [20]. An expeditionary additive manufacturing (ExAM) method for making metal parts [20] includes the steps of transporting the mobile foundry system [12] and the additive manufacturing system [18] to a desired location; making the alloy powder [14] at the location using the mobile foundry system; and building a part [20] at the location using the additive manufacturing system [18].

A machining centre comprising a machining plane; a subtractive unit for performing chip removal on a workpiece positioned on the machining plane; the subtractive unit comprising a first carriage that is slidable parallel to an operating axis; an additive unit arranged to perform machining by additive production techniques on the machining plane; the additive unit comprising a second carriage that is slidable along the operating axis. The additive unit is provided with a first coupling portion and said subtractive unit is provided with a second coupling portion couplable with the first coupling portion. In one step, the subtractive unit adopts a pick-up configuration in which the first coupling portion is coupled with the second coupling portion to connect the subtractive unit to the additive unit at least along the operating axis. In the pick-up configuration, the subtractive unit, connected to the additive unit, is configured to move the additive unit.

A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.