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.

Techniques for evaluating support for an object to be fabricated via an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional representation of the object is obtained and a plurality of voxels corresponding to the representation of the object is generated. A first supportedness value may be assigned to a first voxel of the plurality of voxels based on an amount of support provided by a support structure to the first voxel, and a second supportedness value determined for a second voxel of the plurality of voxels, wherein the second voxel neighbors the first voxel, and wherein the second supportedness value is determined based on the first supportedness value of the first voxel and a weight value representing a transmission rate of supportedness through voxels of the plurality of voxels.

A method for forming a prosthesis comprising a bone-like portion and a cartilage-like portion can comprise additively manufacturing a first positive mold in accordance with a portion of a first three-dimensional model of a portion of a bone. A first negative mold can be formed from the first positive mold. The bone-like portion can be created within the first negative mold. A second positive mold of the bone and a cartilage can be additively manufactured from a second three-dimensional model. A portion of the second three-dimensional model can correspond to a portion of the first three-dimensional model. A second negative mold can be formed from the second positive mold. The bone-like portion can be positioned in the second negative mold so that the second negative mold and the bone-like portion can define a cartilage space that can be filled with a material to form the cartilage-like portion of the prosthesis.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a mold used in an injection molding device. The manufacturing method includes: a first step of shaping a stacked body as a part of the mold by discharging a shaping material to stack layers on a base plate; and a second step of manufacturing the mold including a mold base, the base plate, and the stacked body by incorporating the base plate on which the stacked body is shaped inside an opening provided in the mold base.

This disclosure concerns a master model for the production of a mold, comprising: (a) a first part, a second part comprising a textured surface; wherein the first part and the second part are connected.

A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.

A method of forming a base for additive manufacture in order to print an object or part object on the wax base involves forming the wax base on a printing tray. The base is constructed by providing a layer of wax on a surface of said printing tray. The wax is heated to above a melting point thereof so that the wax in contact with the tray is molten, and then the wax is slowly cooled while continually pressing on the wax. The slow cooling ensures a bond between the wax and the printing tray which may be enhanced if the tray surface is roughened.

A method employs a first polymeric material to deposit first and second pattern layers laterally shifted from each other such that laterally shifted pattern layers form between them an empty volume with a variable cross-section that varies along with the first and second pattern layers. A second polymeric material is cast in the empty volume between the first and second pattern layers to cast a complex-shaped 3D object identical in shape to the empty volume between the first and second pattern layers. Radiation is applied to cure the first and second polymeric materials. The first polymeric material is a water breakable material composition including acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate, acrylic acids, and acrylic acid salts, hydroxy(meth)acrylate, carboxy(meth)acrylate, acrylonitrile, carbohydrate monomers, methacrylate and polyfunctional acrylics.

There is disclosed herein a method of molding an object by infiltrating a matrix material with an infiltration material, the method including providing first and second zones of respective different first and second matrix materials arranged substantially adjacent to each other in a mold, including forming a transition region between the two zones through which the composition of the material in the transition region is gradually varied from the composition of the first matrix material adjacent the first zone to the composition of the second matrix material near the second zone.

This disclosure concerns a master model for the production of a mold, comprising: (a) a first part, a second part comprising a textured surface; wherein the first part and the second part are connected.