Abstract:
A 3D printing system comprising: a selective solidification module to: form a printed article by processing a build material; and form a printed container encompassing the printed article and a portion of unused build material about the printed article, the printed container defining a first port and a second port fluidly connected to the first port. The 3D printing system further comprises a connector to couple to the first port or second port of the printed container; and a pump fluidly connected to the connector to cause a fluid to flow through the printed container from the first port to the second port such that the printed article is cooled by the fluid flow.
Abstract:
Management system to control a 3D printing system that includes at least one 3D printer, at least one build unit in which 3D objects can be generated by the 3D printer, and at least one material processing unit in which processing operations can be performed on the build unit. The management system comprises a processor to obtain status data from at least some of the elements of the 3D printing system, to obtain data relating to a print job to be printed, to determine, from the obtained data, a schedule of operations to be performed by elements of the 3D printing system and to generate control data to allow enforcement of the determined schedule.
Abstract:
In example implementations, an apparatus includes an interface. The interface is to detect a connection to a 3D printer and a connection to a powder supply/post-processing component. The interface may be in communication with a processor. The processor may also be in communication with a timer. The timer is to begin tracking a cooling time when the interface is disconnected from the 3D printer and the processor is to transmit the cooling time to the powder supply/post-processing component when the interface detects the connection to the powder supply/post-processing component.
Abstract:
Certain examples described herein relate to build units that are physically connectable to at least one host apparatus of an additive manufacturing system. A build unit comprises at least one controllable device useable in an object building operation. In certain examples, the at least one device is controllable according to first control instructions originating from the at least one host apparatus when the build unit is physically connected to the at least one host apparatus. In certain examples, the at least one device is also controllable according to second control instructions generated independently of the at least one host apparatus when the build unit is not physically connected to the at least one host apparatus.
Abstract:
Certain examples described herein relate to a removable unit of an additive manufacturing system. The removable unit is connectable to a base unit. When connected and operational, the base unit supplies a first voltage to the removable unit via a first power coupling. The removable unit has a power supply unit that converts the first voltage to a second voltage. The second voltage may power a number of low voltage components. The removable unit also has a power multiplexer. When the first voltage is unavailable the removable unit switches the power multiplexer to use a second voltage that is supplied from the base unit via a second power coupling.
Abstract:
An example control module for a three-dimensional (3D) printing system is described having multiple input interfaces, multiple output interfaces and a power supply interface. The power supply interface provides power to at least one of the control module and any devices connected to the control module via the output interfaces. The control module is configured to receive instructions from a central control unit via at least one of the input interfaces and command a range of electromechanical devices via at least one of the output interfaces.
Abstract:
A storage module of a 3D printing system is disclosed, such module comprising a plurality of transducers located at different sensing positions within the storage module being the plurality of transducers connected to a processor; wherein a combined signal of the plurality of temperature transducers is determined and the processor is to correlate the combined signal to an amount of build material inside the storage module.
Abstract:
A method of calibrating movement of a platform is described, the method comprising: in a calibration run, causing movement of the platform; detecting a plurality of positions of the platform during the movement; deriving a movement pattern from the plurality of positions; and determining an adjustment of the movement of the platform based on the movement pattern.
Abstract:
In example implementations, an apparatus includes a storage unit, an auger screw, a housing enclosing the auger screw and at least one heater coupled to the housing. The augers screw receives a build material from the storage unit and delivers the build material to a build platform via movement of the auger screw. The build material is heated by the at least one heater as the build material is being moved by the auger screw.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to reconfigure a CAN bus network after a failure comprising providing the network with a control device and one or more node devices in a closed loop of CAN bus lines, detecting if there is a failure in the network and reconfiguring the network if a failure is detected. Reconfiguring the network when a failure has been detected comprises decoupling each of the plurality of devices in the network from the CAN bus line, configuring the network to terminate signals in a first device closest to the failure on one side of the failure, configuring the network to terminate signals in a second device closest to the failure on the other side of the failure and coupling a first side of each device with a second side of an adjacent device other than the first side of the second device and the second side of the first device.