Three-dimensional printing and three-dimensional printers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for three-dimensional printing of at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
- an unpacking station configured to facilitate removal of at least a portion of a starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object subsequent to printing the at least one three-dimensional object using the starting material, which unpacking station comprises a first atmosphere; and
a build module configured to accommodate the at least one three-dimensional object and the starting material, which build module comprises a second atmosphere,which unpacking station and the build module are configured to reversibly engage one another, wherein the first atmosphere differs in content from an ambient atmosphere at least when the unpacking station and the build module have reversibly engaged one another, wherein (i) the unpacking station is configured to seal the first atmosphere at pressure different from an ambient pressure, and/or (ii) the build module is configured to seal the second atmosphere at pressure different from the ambient pressure, at least during removal of the at least the portion of the starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object at the unpacking station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for the production of at least one desired 3D object. The 3D printer system (e.g., comprising a processing chamber, build module, or an unpacking station) described herein may retain a desired (e.g., inert) atmosphere around the material bed and/or 3D object at multiple 3D printing stages. The 3D printer described herein comprises one or more build modules that may have a controller separate from the controller of the processing chamber. The 3D printer described herein comprises a platform that may be automatically constructed. The invention(s) described herein may allow the 3D printing process to occur for a long time without operator intervention and/or down time.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus for three-dimensional printing of at least one three-dimensional object, comprising:
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an unpacking station configured to facilitate removal of at least a portion of a starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object subsequent to printing the at least one three-dimensional object using the starting material, which unpacking station comprises a first atmosphere; and a build module configured to accommodate the at least one three-dimensional object and the starting material, which build module comprises a second atmosphere, which unpacking station and the build module are configured to reversibly engage one another, wherein the first atmosphere differs in content from an ambient atmosphere at least when the unpacking station and the build module have reversibly engaged one another, wherein (i) the unpacking station is configured to seal the first atmosphere at pressure different from an ambient pressure, and/or (ii) the build module is configured to seal the second atmosphere at pressure different from the ambient pressure, at least during removal of the at least the portion of the starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object at the unpacking station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 41, 43, 44, 45, 47)
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22. An apparatus for three-dimensional printing of at least one three-dimensional object comprising at least one controller that is configured to operatively couple to an unpacking station, and/or a build module, which at least one controller is configured to direct at least the following operations:
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(a) reversible engage (i) an unpacking station that is configured to accommodate a first atmosphere and is configured to facilitate removal of at least a portion of a starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object subsequent to printing the at least one three-dimensional object using the starting material and, with (ii) the build module that is configured to accommodate a second atmosphere, the at least one three-dimensional object, and a starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object; and (b) control the first atmosphere to differ in content from an ambient atmosphere at least when the unpacking station and the build module have reversibly engaged with one another, and (i) seal the first atmosphere at pressure different from an ambient pressure, and/or (ii) seal the second atmosphere at pressure different from the ambient pressure, at least during removal of the at least the portion of the starting material of the at least one three-dimensional object from the at least one three-dimensional object at the unpacking station. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 46)
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Specification