A method and apparatus for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects are disclosed. Two or more materials are extruded simultaneously as a composite, with at least one material in liquid form and at least one material in a solid continuous strand completely encased within the liquid material. A means of curing the liquid material after extrusion hardens the composite. A part is constructed using a series of extruded composite paths. The strand material within the composite contains specific chemical, mechanical, or electrical characteristics that instill the object with enhanced capabilities not possible with only one material.

The present invention refers to a printed three-dimensional optical component built up from layers of printing ink characterized in that the three-dimensional optical component comprises at least one foil between two consecutive layers. The present invention further relates to a corresponding manufacturing method.

According to one embodiment, a template includes a base body, and a first film. The base body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes silicon oxide and spreads along a first plane. The second surface crosses the first plane. The first film includes aluminum oxide. A direction from the second surface toward the first film is aligned with a direction perpendicular to the second surface. A thickness of the first film along the direction perpendicular to the second surface is not less than 0.3 nm and not more than 10 μm. The first surface includes an unevenness.

A solid object shaping apparatus can shape a solid object having a designated color, and includes a head unit that can eject a plurality of types of liquids including a first liquid used to represent the designated color and a curing unit that cures the plurality of liquids so as to form a plurality of blocks including a first block. The blocks include a first surface block whose upper face or lower face corresponds to a surface of the solid object and a second surface block whose side face corresponds to the surface of the solid object. When the solid object is shaped, the number of the first blocks used in a predetermined area formed by an upper face of the first surface block is different from the number of the first blocks used in a predetermined area formed by a side face of the second surface block.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by: providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, intermittently irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid, and continuously or intermittently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer. In some embodiments, the filling, irradiating, and/or advancing steps are carried out while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, wherein said three-dimensional object is an insert for use between a helmet and a human body, is described. The method may use a polymerizable liquid, or resin, useful for the production by additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from said first component.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid including a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer scaffold from the first component and also advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, and containing the second solidifiable component carried in the scaffold in unsolidified and/or uncured form; and (d) concurrently with or subsequent to the irradiating step, solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.

The present invention relates to monolithic bodies, uses thereof and processes for the preparation thereof. Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of a monolithic body in the preparation of a radioactive substance, for example a radiopharmaceutical, as part of a microfluidic flow system and a process for the preparation of such a monolithic body.

A method and apparatus for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects are disclosed. Two or more materials are extruded simultaneously as a composite, with at least one material in liquid form and at least one material in a solid continuous strand completely encased within the liquid material. A means of curing the liquid material after extrusion hardens the composite. A part is constructed using a series of extruded composite paths. The strand material within the composite contains specific chemical, mechanical, or electrical characteristics that instill the object with enhanced capabilities not possible with only one material.

A method of additively manufacturing parts by selectively cooling a liquefied thermoplastic material.