Abstract:
Provided in one example herein is a three-dimensional printing method, comprising: (A) forming a layer comprising a comprising particles comprising a polymer and cavities between the particles, wherein the particles have an average diameter of between about 5 μm and about 250 ρm; (B) disposing a liquid suspension over at least a portion of the layer such that the liquid suspension infiltrates into the cavities, wherein the liquid suspension comprises a radiation-absorbing coalescent agent and nanoparticles having an average diameter of less than or equal to about 500 nm; (C) forming an object slice by exposing the infiltrated layer to a radiant energy, wherein the object slice comprises a polymeric matrix comprising the polymeric particles, at least some of which are fused to one another, and the nanoparticles within the polymeric matrix; and (D) repeating (A) to (C) to form the three-dimensional object comprising multiple object slices bound depth-wise to one another.
Abstract:
Apparatus, computer readable medium, or method to determine a layer volume change in a processed layer of powder, and distribute an additional amount of powder in a subsequent layer based on the determined layer volume change.
Abstract:
In an example of a three-dimensional (3D) printing method, a build material (consisting of an inorganic particle and a polymer attached thereto) is applied. The polymer is a continuous coating having a thickness from about 3 nm to about 1500 nm, or nano-beads having an average diameter from about 3 nm to about 1500 nm. The build material is heated to a temperature from about 5° C. to about 50° C. below the polymer's melting point. A coalescent dispersion (including a coalescent agent and inorganic nanoparticles) is selectively applied on a portion of the build material, and the applied build material and coalescent dispersion are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. The coalescent dispersion absorbs the electromagnetic radiation and heats up the portion of the build material in contact therewith to fuse the portion of the build material in contact with the coalescent dispersion and to form a layer of a 3D object.