Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

David Ramirez Muela

Sergio Puigardeu Aramendia

Pol Fornos

Salvador Sanchez Ribes

Alejandro Manuel De Pena

Luis Garcia

Xavier Vilajosana

Sebastia Cortes I Herms

Pablo Dominguez Pastor

Lihua Zhao

Manuel Freire Garcia

Li Qian

Xavier Gasso Puchal

Luis Garcia Garcia

Xavier Quintero Ruiz

Francesc Ros Cerro

Michael A Novick

Alex Andrea Tallada

Macia Sole Pons

Pol Fornos Martinez

Andre Garcia

Miguel Angel Lopez

Francisco Lopez Moral

Maria Dinares Argemi

Carmen Blasco Cortes

Michael Alexander Novick

Examples include apparatuses, processes, and methods for generating three-dimensional objects. An example apparatus comprises build material distributor and a controller. Examples distribute a particular build layer in a build area of the apparatus over a previous build layer. Examples determine a build layer temperature corresponding to the particular build layer. Examples analyze build layer coverage for the particular build layer based at least in part on a build layer temperature of the previous build layer and the build layer temperature of the particular build layer. Examples selectively recoat the particular build layer with additional build material based at least in part on the build layer coverage for the particular build layer.

Build layer coverage analysis

Certain examples described herein control an amount of a functional agent that is deposited in a three-dimensional printing system. In certain examples, an amount of a functional agent is controlled based on a distance function, wherein the distance function is associated with a distance between a particular portion of an object to be fabricated and a surface of the object. The functional agent may be a binder, a fusing agent or a detailing agent, amongst others.

Selective deposit of a functional agent

Apparatus to produce a three-dimensional object and methods of producing a three-dimensional object are described. In some examples, a first fluid comprising a colorant and a second fluid comprising an absorber to absorb electromagnetic radiation are applied on a layer of particulate material. Application of the second fluid to the layer of particulate material is in dependence on an ability of the first fluid to absorb the electromagnetic radiation.

Three-dimensional object production

In an example, a method includes in an additive manufacturing process, generating a first object and generating an ancillary object on top of the first object to reduce a thermal gradient of the first object during cooling.

Ancillary objects in object generation

In an example, object model data representing at least a portion of an object defining an initial object geometry is received, wherein the object is to be generated by an additive manufacturing apparatus by fusing build material using a radiant heater. Based on a non-uniform radiant heating distribution of the additive manufacturing apparatus, a modified object geometry may be determined, wherein a local modification of the object geometry is determined based on a local radiant heating parameter determined from the non-uniform radiant heating distribution.

Modifying object geometries based on radiant heating distribution

There is disclosed additive manufacturing apparatus comprising: a controller to: receive object data relating to an object to be generated; and define print data for additive manufacture of the object by ejection of a print agent on build material in a pattern corresponding to selective fusing of the build material, wherein the print data is defined based on the object data so that the pattern defines a shield feature embedded within the object to inhibit fusing of build material corresponding to the shield feature relative build material corresponding to an adjacent portion of the object; and a print agent distributor to eject a print agent on build material based on the print data.

Definition of a shield feature for additive manufacture

Certain examples described herein relate to preparing a base of build material for additive manufacturing. The base is formed from layers of build material that do not form part of an object undergoing additive manufacture. The base is heated by the application of energy, for example using a radiation source. A thermal profile of the base is measured after heating and is used to determine a pattern of application of at least one printing agent to the base. The pattern of application is used to deposit the at least one printing agent upon the base, wherein the presence of the printing agent affects the heating of the base. In this way the pattern of application of printing agent may be used to effect a thermal homogeneity of the base.

Preparing a base for additive manufacturing

In an example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus to generate a three dimensional object comprises processing successive layers of build material so as to form successive layers of a three dimensional object, wherein the processing of each layer is performed within a predetermined layer processing time by a plurality of components. The method may further include selecting, by at least one processor, from a plurality of ancillary tasks, at least one ancillary task to be performed in relation to at least one component of the plurality of components. The method may further include scheduling, by at least one processor, the at least one ancillary task to be performed in relation to the at least one component within the predetermined layer processing time for a single layer or for multiple layers of the build material.

Selecting a task in additive manufacturing

According to an example, a 3D printer may include a delivery device and a controller. The controller may access a morphology of a part to be formed from a plurality of build materials in a layer, determine, based upon the accessed morphology, a first delivery pattern for the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer during a first pass over the layer and a second delivery pattern for the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer during a second pass over the layer to control a property of the part formed of some of the build materials in the layer. The controller may also control the delivery device to selectively deliver liquid droplets onto build materials in the layer according to the determined first and second delivery patterns respectively during the first pass and the second pass.

3D part control using multiple pass liquid delivery

Examples are described that generate control data for production of a three-dimensional object. Build material profile data is accessed for an indicated build material. The build material profile data for a given build material defines one or more parameter values that are dependent on the properties of the given build material and that are configured to generate a three-dimensional object with predefined build properties.

Build material profile

Apparatus () for generating a three-dimensional object comprising a support () to receive build material, and a calibration platform () to receive a print media for use with a calibration operation performed by the apparatus. The calibration platform () may be moveable between a non-calibration position when the apparatus is operating in a building mode of operation, and a calibration position when the apparatus is operating in a calibration mode of operation.

Generating a three-dimensional object

There is disclosed additive manufacturing apparatus comprising: a controller () to: receive object data relating to an object to be generated; and define print data for additive manufacture of the object by ejection of a print agent on build material in a pattern corresponding to selective fusing of the build material, wherein the print data is defined based on the object data so that the pattern defines a shield feature () embedded within the object to inhibit fusing of build material corresponding to the shield feature relative build material corresponding to an adjacent portion of the object; and a print agent distributor () to eject a print agent on build material based on the print data.

A method of controlling temperature in an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object comprises performing a calibration test on a sample of build material that is to be used in generating a three-dimensional object, calibrating at least one temperature point from the calibration test, and using the at least one calibrated temperature point during subsequent temperature control of the apparatus.

Controlling temperature in an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object

In an example, a method includes forming, at an additive manufacturing apparatus, a first layer of build material to be processed in the generation of an object. A print agent is selectively applied onto the first layer based on a first print instruction associated with the first layer. Energy is applied to the first layer to cause fusion in a region of the first layer. The method further comprises: measuring the temperature of the first layer at a plurality of locations to form a measured temperature distribution profile; comparing the measured temperature distribution profile against a predicted temperature distribution profile to generate a difference; and correcting a temperature distribution profile of a subsequent layer of the build material following fusion of the subsequent layer based on the difference by modifying a second print instruction associated with the subsequent layer.

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Barcelona, Spain

David Ramirez Muela