Multi-shelf three-dimensional printing

A three-dimensional printing system comprising:

• a print volume;
• a printer head;
• a print bed;
• one or more auxiliary shelves;
• a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting the one or more auxiliary shelves into the print volume and between the print bed and the printer head;
• a printer assembly that includes the printer head and that is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on the print bed and the one or more auxiliary shelves inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism;
• and
• a controller that is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert a shelf of said one or more auxiliary shelves between the print bed and the printer head after formation of an object of said one or more objects on the print bed by the printer assembly is complete,
• wherein the controller is further configured to control the printer assembly to deposit layers of the material within the print volume to form a plurality of shelf support columns on the print bed, and
• wherein the shelf insertion mechanism is configured to insert the shelf of said one or more auxiliary shelves by lowering the shelf of said one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves on top of the plurality of shelf support columns.