A connecting device for receiving a cartridge container and for positioning at a connection point in an installation for producing three-dimensional components by successively solidifying layers of a powdered building material, having a housing, having a cartridge receiver which is provided at the housing and to which the cartridge container can be fastened, having a connection side on the housing opposite the cartridge receiver, which connection side has a passage for delivering powdered building material from the cartridge container or for feeding powdered building material into the cartridge container, having a closure member which is provided between the cartridge receiver and the connection side and by which the passage can be activated for opening and closing the passage.

A connecting device for receiving a cartridge container and for positioning at a connection point in an installation for producing three-dimensional components by successively solidifying layers of a powdered building material, having a housing, having a cartridge receiver which is provided at the housing and to which the cartridge container can be fastened, having a connection side on the housing opposite the cartridge receiver, which connection side has a passage for delivering powdered building material from the cartridge container or for feeding powdered building material into the cartridge container, having a closure member which is provided between the cartridge receiver and the connection side and by which the passage can be activated for opening and closing the passage.

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 3D printer successively fuses sheet material in a stack to form a three-dimensional object. The sheet material may provide a mesh separating islands of material that will be fused to produce the desired three-dimensional object. The mesh provides support for the island material during the fusing process and may be removed afterwards.

An additive manufacturing machine and associated method for making a part layerwise by firstly using additive manufacture to make a mold to define a space for the layer, and secondly filling the space with a paste to make a layer of the part. The machine comprises a first mold forming station with inkjet nozzles to form the mold using standard 3D printing, and a second paste dispensing station distanced from the first station, with a dispensing die slot for dispensing paste into the space to form a layer. The machine operates on multiple parts simultaneously, each being conveyed along a path through the stations.

An additive manufacturing machine and associated method for making a part layerwise by firstly using additive manufacture to make a mold to define a space for the layer, and secondly filling the space with a paste to make a layer of the part. The machine comprises a first mold forming station with inkjet nozzles to form the mold using standard 3D printing, and a second paste dispensing station distanced from the first station, with a dispensing die slot for dispensing paste into the space to form a layer. The machine operates on multiple parts simultaneously, each being conveyed along a path through the stations.

Support substrates are used in certain additive fabrication processes to permit processing of an object. For additive fabrication processes with materials that are sintered into a final part, a multi-layer support substrate of interleaved support and interface layers is fabricated to support an object while reducing an impact of friction on shrinkage of the part during the sintering process.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, which is a method of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object using a cutting tool configured to cut a first length in a cutting direction, includes: a first portion shaping step of stacking a shaping material to shape a first portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than the first length; a first portion cutting step of cutting the first portion in the cutting direction by the cutting tool; and a second portion shaping step of stacking the shaping material to couple to a first end surface of the first portion in a direction opposite to the cutting direction, and to shape a second portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than that of the first portion.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object, which is a method of shaping a three-dimensional shaped object using a cutting tool configured to cut a first length in a cutting direction, includes: a first portion shaping step of stacking a shaping material to shape a first portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than the first length; a first portion cutting step of cutting the first portion in the cutting direction by the cutting tool; and a second portion shaping step of stacking the shaping material to couple to a first end surface of the first portion in a direction opposite to the cutting direction, and to shape a second portion having a length in the cutting direction shorter than that of the first portion.