A method of printing a 3D object comprising a plurality of discrete elements, the method comprising: receiving a 3D digital model of a shell group comprising one or more shells representing the plurality of discrete elements; defining, in the 3D digital model, a unifying shell to at least partly envelop one or more shells of the shell group to provide a unified digital model comprising the shell group and the unifying shell; assigning the unifying shell with at least one transparent building material that is transparent upon dispensing and solidifying thereof; assigning the one or more shells of the shell group with one or more building materials; and dispensing, in layers, the at least one transparent building material and the one or more building materials according to the unified digital model to form a 3D object comprising one or more discrete elements that are at least partly connected by a unifying element.

A method of printing a 3D object comprising a plurality of discrete elements, the method comprising: receiving a 3D digital model of a shell group comprising one or more shells representing the plurality of discrete elements; defining, in the 3D digital model, a unifying shell to at least partly envelop one or more shells of the shell group to provide a unified digital model comprising the shell group and the unifying shell; assigning the unifying shell with at least one transparent building material that is transparent upon dispensing and solidifying thereof; assigning the one or more shells of the shell group with one or more building materials; and dispensing, in layers, the at least one transparent building material and the one or more building materials according to the unified digital model to form a 3D object comprising one or more discrete elements that are at least partly connected by a unifying element.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

Systems and a method determine an amount of printing material powder for 3D printing an object a multi-object printing job. Data on the following is received: a 3D-model of the object, a volume and a surface of the object, data on a thickness of a powder, on characteristics of the build chamber, a volume of a no build zone and a volume of a net build zone, an estimation of a volume of recyclable interstitial powder, on a powder density and on a solid density of the printing material and on a recycling ratio. The following quantities are determined: a volume of the powder layer around the object, a dilated object contribution, the amount of used powder due the dilated object, the amount of lost powder in the no build zone, the amount of lost powder in the net build zone and the amount of printing material required.

The present invention provides methods, processes, and systems for the manufacture of three-dimensional articles made of polymers using 3D printing. A layer of prepolymer is deposited on a build plate to form a powder bed. The deposited powder bed is heated to about 50° C. to about 170° C. Then, a solution of activating agent is printed on the powder bed in a predetermined pattern, and a stimulus is applied converting the prepolymer to the final polymer. After a predetermined period of time, sequential layers are printed to provide the three-dimensional article. The three-dimensional object can be cured to produce the three-dimensional article composed of the final polymers.

An additive manufacturing machine includes: a resin support which has at least a portion which is transparent, wherein the resin support defines a build surface; a material depositor operable to deposit a resin which is radiant-energy-curable onto the build surface; at least two build stations, each build station including: a stage positioned adjacent the build zone and configured to hold a stacked arrangement of one or more cured layers of the resin; one or more actuators operable to manipulate a relative position of the stage and the build surface; and at least one radiant energy apparatus positioned opposite to the stage, and operable to generate and project radiant energy in a predetermined pattern.

The present application relates to the technical field of 3D printing, and more particularly to a method and a device for placing a 3D model, a computer-readable storage medium, and a 3D printer. The method includes: performing a dimension reduction processing to a first 3D model and a second 3D model, respectively, to obtain a first plane graphics corresponding to the first 3D model and a second plane graphics corresponding to the second 3D model; determining a minimum bounding rectangle of the first plane graphics; determining a convex hull of the second plane graphics, and determining an insertion point in the convex hull; and performing a successive insertion attempt to the minimum bounding rectangle at the insertion point, and determining a final placement position.

Provided herein are devices and systems for depositing a material or manufacturing a product, such as a pharmaceutical dosage form, by additive manufacturing. Further provided are methods of using the devices and systems, as well as methods of manufacturing a product, such as a pharmaceutical dosage form, by additive manufacturing. In certain embodiments, the device includes a material supply system configured to melt an pressurized a material, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the material within the device, and a control switch comprising a sealing needle operable in an open position and closed position. The sealing needle extends through a feed channel containing the material and includes a taper end, wherein the tapered end of the sealing needle engages a tapered inner surface of a nozzle to inhibit flow of the material through the nozzle when the sealing needle is in the closed position.

Provided herein are devices and systems for depositing a material or manufacturing a product, such as a pharmaceutical dosage form, by additive manufacturing. Further provided are methods of using the devices and systems, as well as methods of manufacturing a product, such as a pharmaceutical dosage form, by additive manufacturing. In certain embodiments, the device includes a material supply system configured to melt an pressurized a material, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the material within the device, and a control switch comprising a sealing needle operable in an open position and closed position. The sealing needle extends through a feed channel containing the material and includes a taper end, wherein the tapered end of the sealing needle engages a tapered inner surface of a nozzle to inhibit flow of the material through the nozzle when the sealing needle is in the closed position.