The material feeding device is configured so that in the state in which a hopper having an opening part and containing a material is attached to a coupling member configured so that the hopper is detachably attached to the coupling member, when the hopper is located in a first area, a first member configured to be able to make a sliding displacement on a slide surface having the first area where a feed hole is disposed makes the sliding displacement to a third area different from the first area to make it possible to take a communicated state in which the opening part and the feed hole are communicated with each other, and when the hopper is located in a second area, the first member makes a sliding displacement to the first area to make it possible to take a non-communicated state in which the first member covers the feed hole. The material feeding device takes the non-communicated state at least when the hopper is detached from the coupling member via a detachably attaching part disposed in the second area extending along a direction in which the first area extends.

The material feeding device is configured so that in the state in which a hopper having an opening part and containing a material is attached to a coupling member configured so that the hopper is detachably attached to the coupling member, when the hopper is located in a first area, a first member configured to be able to make a sliding displacement on a slide surface having the first area where a feed hole is disposed makes the sliding displacement to a third area different from the first area to make it possible to take a communicated state in which the opening part and the feed hole are communicated with each other, and when the hopper is located in a second area, the first member makes a sliding displacement to the first area to make it possible to take a non-communicated state in which the first member covers the feed hole. The material feeding device takes the non-communicated state at least when the hopper is detached from the coupling member via a detachably attaching part disposed in the second area extending along a direction in which the first area extends.

The present invention relates to a coupling system for an additive manufacturing process, comprising: a conduit for the transfer of material between a container and a further component of the additive manufacturing process; and one or more actuators for controlling operation of the conduit; wherein the conduit comprises first and second portions connected via an extendable intermediate portion; and wherein the one or more actuators are operable to act on at least a portion of the conduit to extend or retract the intermediate portion to control the length of the conduit.

A powder supply apparatus includes at least a vibration sieve part configured to vibrate a powder supply port by a vibration source. The powder supply port has a rectangular shape. The vibration source is mounted on a short side of the powder supply port.

A powder supply apparatus includes at least a vibration sieve part configured to vibrate a powder supply port by a vibration source. The powder supply port has a rectangular shape. The vibration source is mounted on a short side of the powder supply port.

An extruder, granule feed, and liquid additive dispenser system for 3D printers, having a mobile print head (1) with a substantially vertical extruder barrel (17) and a throat (18) which, at the upper area whereof, includes a mobile funnel-shaped hopper (10′) for the receiving of the granules (2) and a rotating internal worm (19). The mobile hopper (10′) presents curved indentations (28) that progress inward in the rotational direction of the worm, seeking langency to the mouth (29). The worm (19) includes, as an extension to its thread (26), a drag shovel (20) complementary to the mobile hopper (10′) with a sloping internal thrust face (27) that links with its cavity (25) and draws inward the granules contained in the hopper (10′) via the indentations.

An extruder, granule feed, and liquid additive dispenser system for 3D printers, having a mobile print head (1) with a substantially vertical extruder barrel (17) and a throat (18) which, at the upper area whereof, includes a mobile funnel-shaped hopper (10′) for the receiving of the granules (2) and a rotating internal worm (19). The mobile hopper (10′) presents curved indentations (28) that progress inward in the rotational direction of the worm, seeking langency to the mouth (29). The worm (19) includes, as an extension to its thread (26), a drag shovel (20) complementary to the mobile hopper (10′) with a sloping internal thrust face (27) that links with its cavity (25) and draws inward the granules contained in the hopper (10′) via the indentations.

In one example, a powdered build material supply system for additive manufacturing includes a supply deck, a dispenser to dispense a ribbon of powdered build material on to the supply deck, and a spreader to spread powdered build material from the ribbon over a work area adjacent to the supply deck.

A method of printing a 3D printing a photopolymer composite material includes providing a resin premix material including an acrylate monomer or an acrylate oligomer, an inorganic hydrate, a reinforcing filler, a co-initiator, and an ultraviolet (UV) initiator. A thermal initiator is mixed with the resin premix to form a photopolymer composite resin. The photopolymer composite resin is repeatedly extruded and dual-cured by a 3D printing system to create a photopolymer composite material. The 3D printing system includes a control system, a mixing system, a feeding system in fluid communication with the mixing system, a light curing module controlled by the control system, and a printing head controlled by the control system.

A method of printing a 3D printing a photopolymer composite material includes providing a resin premix material including an acrylate monomer or an acrylate oligomer, an inorganic hydrate, a reinforcing filler, a co-initiator, and an ultraviolet (UV) initiator. A thermal initiator is mixed with the resin premix to form a photopolymer composite resin. The photopolymer composite resin is repeatedly extruded and dual-cured by a 3D printing system to create a photopolymer composite material. The 3D printing system includes a control system, a mixing system, a feeding system in fluid communication with the mixing system, a light curing module controlled by the control system, and a printing head controlled by the control system.