A multi-material 3-D printing system and method including at least two printing heads each with a transparent window circumscribed by an ejection nozzle. Each ejection nozzle is coupled to a respective pump that pumps resin from a respective vat onto a respective window. The resin is cured from below the window by exposure to a digital image displayed by a micro display chip. To switch resins, the sample is moved across a plurality of suction nozzles towards a second printing head. A respective one of the suction heads is coupled to a vacuum that effectuates the intake of residual resin from the underside of the sample.

The present invention relates to a powder distribution device that can uniformly distribute powder using powder flow due to the weight of the powder itself, and a 3D printing device including the same. The powder distribution device of the present invention comprises a powder distribution unit that includes: an outer frame having an empty powder material inlet port; and at least one distribution plate disposed inside the outer frame to disperse introduced powder, wherein the powder can be broken down using the powder flow without additional power from a feed screw, a motor, or the like.

A system for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial is provided. In an embodiment, a system for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial includes determining at least one tuned physical property for each of a plurality of micro-resonators according to a desired acoustic property of the acoustic metamaterial. For a particular physical property, a value of the tuned physical property for at least one of the plurality of micro-resonators is different from a value of the tuned physical property for at least one other of the plurality of micro-resonators. The system also includes an additively manufacturing device configured to form the acoustic metamaterial such that the acoustic metamaterial comprises a first structure and the plurality of micro-resonators embedded within the first structure. Forming the acoustic metamaterial is performed such that an actual physical property of each of the plurality of micro-resonators is equal to a corresponding tuned physical property for each of the plurality of micro-resonators.

A system for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial is provided. In an embodiment, a system for fabricating an acoustic metamaterial includes determining at least one tuned physical property for each of a plurality of micro-resonators according to a desired acoustic property of the acoustic metamaterial. For a particular physical property, a value of the tuned physical property for at least one of the plurality of micro-resonators is different from a value of the tuned physical property for at least one other of the plurality of micro-resonators. The system also includes an additively manufacturing device configured to form the acoustic metamaterial such that the acoustic metamaterial comprises a first structure and the plurality of micro-resonators embedded within the first structure. Forming the acoustic metamaterial is performed such that an actual physical property of each of the plurality of micro-resonators is equal to a corresponding tuned physical property for each of the plurality of micro-resonators.

A system and a method for levelling a powder bed is disclosed. The system comprises a cutting device comprising a cutting line and a support surface. The powder bed is cut by the cutting line which moves in a first direction such that the cut powder ends up in contact with the support surface, where it is drawn towards an outlet by a powder entrainment system.

A system and a method for levelling a powder bed is disclosed. The system comprises a cutting device comprising a cutting line and a support surface. The powder bed is cut by the cutting line which moves in a first direction such that the cut powder ends up in contact with the support surface, where it is drawn towards an outlet by a powder entrainment system.

A photocuring printing system. A developing drum is rotatable and is light-transmissive; the developing drum and a carrier are oppositely arranged and movable with respect to each other; the developing drum has a developing surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the developing engine; a feeder and the developing surface are oppositely arranged; during a rotation of the developing drum, a photocurable material provided by the feeder is selectively attracted by the electrostatic latent image to form a material layer on the developing surface; the material layer is applied, by the developing drum, on a forming surface of the carrier or a cured model on the carrier; and a curing light beam emitted by a curing light source passes through a material-laying side of the developing drum to irradiate the material layer between the developing drum and the carrier to form a cured layer.

A photocuring printing system. A developing drum is rotatable and is light-transmissive; the developing drum and a carrier are oppositely arranged and movable with respect to each other; the developing drum has a developing surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the developing engine; a feeder and the developing surface are oppositely arranged; during a rotation of the developing drum, a photocurable material provided by the feeder is selectively attracted by the electrostatic latent image to form a material layer on the developing surface; the material layer is applied, by the developing drum, on a forming surface of the carrier or a cured model on the carrier; and a curing light beam emitted by a curing light source passes through a material-laying side of the developing drum to irradiate the material layer between the developing drum and the carrier to form a cured layer.

A hand-held three-dimensional drawing device can include an anti-rotation mechanism that can restrict rotation of a filament moving through the device. The anti-rotation mechanism can have a filament-engaging component in a passage of the anti-rotation mechanism and positioned to engage and restrict rotation a filament extending through the passage. The drawing device can also include a moveable member to control an operation of the drawing device. The moveable member can include a rotatable control mechanism including a portion of an outer profile of a housing of the device. Finally, the drawing device can also include a cover member comprising a portion of an outer profile of housing of the device and positioned adjacent to an actuator to control an operation of the device.

A sliding window is used in a projection-based stereolithographic process to more quickly deliver uncured resin after each curing pass. The sliding window may be configured in different patterns, and includes features for delivering resin and exposing resin to curing radiation. The window screen divides the stereolithographic building area divided into two portions, a light exposure portion for resin curing and a liquid resin refilling portion. The light exposure portion is used to selectively solidify liquid resin, while the liquid resin refilling portion is used to quickly refill liquid resin in order to build additional layers. During the layer fabrication process, a mask image is projected to the tank; however, the projection light only passes through the light exposure portion of the window screen.