Described are methods and apparatus for the inspection of cured layers of an object during the fabrication of the object using a 3D printing system. A just-printed layer may be inspected by pressing the layer against a pressure-sensitive surface in order to collect information about the layer. For example, a tank may contain a photo-curing liquid polymer, and at its bottom are pressure sensitive elements (e.g., in a backing member or mask). An extraction plate to which the object is affixed may be adjusted so as to position a surface of the object adjacent to the pressure sensitive elements, which report a pressure distribution (e.g., by virtue of a force exerted by a localized region of the object on a localized region of the pressure sensitive elements).

An additive manufacturing method including repeatedly applying a layer of building material on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and scanning the layer at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, where the laser radiation is generated by a laser light source and is directed onto the building material layer via optical components. An optics compartment is encased by an optics compartment housing and accommodates the optical components. A defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

An additive manufacturing method including repeatedly applying a layer of building material on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and scanning the layer at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, where the laser radiation is generated by a laser light source and is directed onto the building material layer via optical components. An optics compartment is encased by an optics compartment housing and accommodates the optical components. A defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

In an aspect an apparatus for analyzing machinability of a part for manufacture, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor. The processor is configured to receive a representative part model of a part for manufacture. The processor may also be configured to extract a semantic datum from the print of the part for manufacture. A machinability datum is determined as a function of the semantic datum. A manufacturing quote is generated as a function of the machinability datum.

A multi-beam volumetric resin curing system and method for whole-volume additive manufacturing of an object includes a bath containing a photosensitive resin, a light source for producing a light beam, and a spatial light modulator which produces a phase- or intensity-modulated light beam by impressing a phase profile or intensity profile of an image onto a light beam received from the light source. The system and method also include projection optics which then produces multiple sub-image beams from the modulated light beam which are projected to intersect each other in the photosensitive resin to cure select volumetric regions of the resin in a whole-volume three-dimensional pattern representing the object.

A multi-beam volumetric resin curing system and method for whole-volume additive manufacturing of an object includes a bath containing a photosensitive resin, a light source for producing a light beam, and a spatial light modulator which produces a phase- or intensity-modulated light beam by impressing a phase profile or intensity profile of an image onto a light beam received from the light source. The system and method also include projection optics which then produces multiple sub-image beams from the modulated light beam which are projected to intersect each other in the photosensitive resin to cure select volumetric regions of the resin in a whole-volume three-dimensional pattern representing the object.

The invention aims to provide a contactless method to create small conductive tracks on a substrate. To this end a method is provided for selective material deposition, comprising depositing a first material on a substrate; followed by solidifying the first material selectively in a first solidified pattern by one or more energy beams; and followed by propelling non-solidified material away from the substrate by a large area photonic exposure, controlled in timing, energy and intensity to leave the solidified first pattern of the first material.

The invention aims to provide a contactless method to create small conductive tracks on a substrate. To this end a method is provided for selective material deposition, comprising depositing a first material on a substrate; followed by solidifying the first material selectively in a first solidified pattern by one or more energy beams; and followed by propelling non-solidified material away from the substrate by a large area photonic exposure, controlled in timing, energy and intensity to leave the solidified first pattern of the first material.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.