3d Systems, Inc.

Colin Leonard Blain

Evan Kuester

Joseph Chang

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional (3D) article includes: (1) receiving a solid model defining a 3D article, (2) receiving information defining an information bearing image which can includes machine and/or human readable indicia, (3) defining a solid model of a 3D tag to be attached to the article, the 3D tag having thick sections and thin sections that define the information bearing image, (4) merging the solid model of the 3D article with the solid model of the 3D tag to provide a composite solid model defining the 3D article integral with the 3D tag, (5) sending the composite solid model to an additive manufacturing system, and (6) operating the additive manufacturing print engine to integrally fabricate the 3D article and 3D tag from a single material.

High volume manufacturing method for precision articles based on three-dimensional printing including a 3D tag

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print engine and a controller. The controller in turn includes a processor coupled to a non-transient memory. The non-transient memory stores software instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to operate the print engine to fabricate a body. The body includes a three-dimensional arrangement of 3D articles that are pairwise coupled together. An individual pair of the arrangement of 3D articles includes a first article and a second article. A curved body couples a first surface of the first article to the second article. The curved body intersects the first surface to define a closed intersection curve that bounds a break surface. Along the closed intersection curve a surface of the curved body subtends an acute angle with the first surface.

High volume manufacturing method for precision articles based on three-dimensional printing

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes (1) receiving a data file, (2) analyzing the data file, and (3) defining a support structure. The data file defines a hollow three-dimensional article to be formed from a build material. Analyzing the data file includes identifying an opening that converges to an apex along the sequence of layers. The opening is at least partly defined by an inside edge of the three-dimensional article. The support structure is attached to the edge and closes the opening. The support structure includes a structural sheet portion and an interface web portion. The structure sheet portion defines a majority of an area of the support structure except for a boundary contour between the structural sheet portion and the inside edge. The interface web portion closes the boundary contour and defines a weakness contour for removing the structural portion from the three-dimensional article.

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Rock Hill, SC, United States of America

Colin Leonard Blain