# US 11,999,110 B2 · Quality assurance in formation of three-dimensional objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,110 B2 - Document ID: US11999110B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/584,881 - Filed: 2022-01-26 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-26 - Applicants: Velo3D, Inc. - Inventors: Benyamin Buller; Gregory Ferguson Brown; Jatinder Randhawa; Gustavo A. Tapia Imbaquingo; Josiah Franklin Willard; Aqi He; Alexander Varlakhanov; Aram Yegiazaryan; Alexander Talalai; Zachary Ryan Murphree; Pieter Coulier; Erel Milshtein; Sergey Korepanov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999110B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B22F 10/31: Calibration of process steps or apparatus settings, e.g. before or during manufacturing - B22F 10/38: to achieve specific product aspects, e.g. surface smoothness, density, porosity or hollow structures - B22F 10/85: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B22F 12/90: Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Provided herein are methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer readable media concerning quality assurance of three-dimensional object(s) and their formation. In some embodiments, a plurality of variables is considered in assessing performance of a manufacturing mechanism (e.g., printer) utilized in forming the three-dimensional object(s). In some embodiments, a plurality of variables is considered in assessing a process for forming the three-dimensional object(s). In some embodiments, a plurality of variables is considered in assessing a quality of the formed three-dimensional object(s). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for assuring quality in printing at least one three-dimensional object, the method comprising: (a) comparing three-dimensional printers to a standard to generate a printer comparison, the three-dimensional printers being selected by a user, the standard relating to components of the three-dimensional printers; (b) outputting the printer comparison to the user for a choice of a three-dimensional printer of the three-dimensional printers; (c) analyzing a first data collected by a first sensor to identify a first deviation from a first expected value, the first sensor being configured to sense a first aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the first aspect comprising a first variable of the printing; (d) analyzing a second data collected by a second sensor to identify a second deviation from a second expected value, the second sensor being configured to sense a second aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the second sensor being different from the first sensor in sensor type and/or in sensor location, the second aspect comprising a second variable of the printing; (e) assessing the quality of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object to generate a result by considering at least (I) the first deviation and (II) the second deviation, the result comprising a third aspect, the third aspect being different from the first aspect, the third aspect being different from the second aspect, the result comprising an integration of (i) the first data collected by the first sensor and (ii) the second data collected by the second sensor, wherein the integration is based at least in part on the choice of the three-dimensional printer utilized for the printing among the three-dimensional printers; and (f) directing the three-dimensional printer chosen to print the at least one three-dimensional object based at least in part on the result. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises displaying to the user a status of at least one component based at least in part on the choice of the at least one component by the user, the components comprising the at least one component; and optionally wherein the method comprises (a) comparing two or more of the components selected by the user to generate a component comparison; and (b) outputting the component comparison to the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting the user of a deviation in a specific aspect relative to a threshold of the specific aspect altered by the user, the specific aspect comprising the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising a sensor of each of the three-dimensional printers; and optionally wherein the sensor is selected from hundreds of sensors of each three-dimensional printer of the three-dimensional printers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a target surface of the printing to generate (I) a topographical map of the target surface, and/or (II) a reflectivity map of the target surface, the topographical map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object, and the reflectivity map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising a layer dispenser configured to successively dispense layers of powder material to generate a material bed from which the at least one three-dimensional object is printed during the printing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the layers of powder material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising a transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent being configured to transform during the printing a starting material to a transformed material, the starting material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising the transforming agent being a laser beam having (I) a stability property during the printing, (II) an alignment property with a target surface of the printing, and/or (III) a focus property on the target surface of the printing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the stability property, the alignment property, and/or the focus property, is a function of time during the printing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising an optical component of each of the three-dimensional printers; and optionally wherein the optical component (I) has a thermal lensing property during the printing, (II) is disposed in or above a roof of an enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing, (III) comprising an optical window through which a transforming agent traverses into the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent, and/or (IV) is configured to direct the transforming agent to traverse into the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent; and optionally wherein the thermal lensing property varies as a function of time during the printing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising a gas conveyance system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the standard relates to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain an internal atmosphere in an enclosure different from an ambient atmosphere external to the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the gas conveyance system is configured to, during the printing, maintain the internal atmosphere having (I) an internal pressure different from an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere, (II) a level of contaminants below a threshold, the contaminants being gas borne, the contaminants being generated during the printing, and/or (III) at least one reactive agent at an internal concentration different from an ambient concentration of the at least one reactive agent in the ambient atmosphere, the at least one reactive agent being configured to react during the printing with a starting material of the printing. ### Claim 15 At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium for assuring quality in printing at least one three-dimensional object, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising saved instructions that, when read by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute, or direct execution of, operations comprising: (a) comparing three-dimensional printers to a standard to generate a printer comparison, the three-dimensional printers being selected by a user, the standard relating to components of the three-dimensional printers; (b) outputting the printer comparison to the user for a choice of a three-dimensional printer of the three-dimensional printers; (c) analyzing a first data collected by a first sensor to identify a first deviation from a first expected value, the first sensor being configured to sense a first aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the first aspect comprising a first variable of the printing; (d) analyzing a second data collected by a second sensor to identify a second deviation from a second expected value, the second sensor being configured to sense a second aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the second sensor being different from the first sensor in sensor type and/or in sensor location, the second aspect comprising a second variable of the printing; (e) assessing the quality of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object to generate a result by considering at least (I) the first deviation and (II) the second deviation, the result comprising a third aspect, the third aspect being different from the first aspect, the third aspect being different from the second aspect, the result comprising an integration of (i) the first data collected by the first sensor and (ii) the second data collected by the second sensor, wherein the integration is based at least in part on the choice of the three-dimensional printer utilized for the printing among the three-dimensional printers; and (f) directing the three-dimensional printer chosen to perform the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object based at least in part on the result. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise stamping a third data collected, the third data collected comprising the first data collected by the first sensor or the second data collected by the second sensor, the stamping comprising location stamping; and optionally wherein the at least one three-dimensional object is printed layerwise, and wherein location of the location stamping corresponds to a location of a layer as part of the at least one three-dimensional object and the user is able to access a fourth data relating to the layer, the fourth date being from the first data, from the second data, or from the third data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a subject comprises the component or the three-dimensional printer, and wherein the operations comprise outputting, or directing outputting, to the user an indicator of the subject, the indicator indicating (i) that no data exists for the subject, (ii) that old data exists for the subject, (iii) age of the subject, (iv) when last data of the subject was obtained, or (v) any combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise outputting, or directing outputting, a symbol and/or color, to indicate a compliance level of a variable of the printing to the user, the variable comprising the first variable or the second variable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising sensors of the three-dimensional printers; and optionally wherein the sensors are selected from hundreds of sensors of each three-dimensional printer of the three-dimensional printers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the sensors are configured to sense a target surface of the printing to generate (I) a topographical map of the target surface, (II) a reflectivity map of the target surface or (III) the topographical map of the target surface and the reflectivity map of the target surface, the topographical map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object, and the reflectivity map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising layer dispensers each configured to successively dispense layers of powder material to generate a material bed from which the at least one three-dimensional object is printed during the printing; and optionally wherein the layers of powder material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising a transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent being configured to transform during the printing a starting material to a transformed material, the starting material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising a transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent being a laser beam having (I) a stability property during the three-dimensional printing, (II) an alignment property with a target surface of the printing, and/or (III) a focus property on the target surface of the printing; and optionally wherein the property is a function of time during the three-dimensional printing, the property including (a) the stability property, (b) the alignment property, and/or (c) the focus property. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising an optical component of each of the three-dimensional printers; and optionally wherein the optical components (I) has a thermal lensing property during the printing, (II) is disposed in or above a roof of an enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing, (III) comprising an optical window through which a transforming agent traverses into the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent, and/or (IV) is configured to direct the transforming agent to traverse into the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent; and optionally wherein the thermal lensing property varies as a function of time during the printing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard relating to the components comprising a gas conveyance system; optionally wherein the standard relates to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain an internal atmosphere in an enclosure different from an ambient atmosphere external to the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing; and optionally wherein the gas conveyance system is configured to, during the printing, maintain the internal atmosphere having (I) an internal pressure different from an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere, (II) a level of contaminants below a threshold, the contaminants being gas borne, the contaminants being generated during the printing, and/or (III) at least one reactive agent at an internal concentration different from an ambient concentration of the at least one reactive agent in the ambient atmosphere, the at least one reactive agent being configured to react during the printing with a starting material of the printing. ### Claim 26 An apparatus for assuring quality in printing at least one three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising: at least one controller configured to operatively couple with a three-dimensional printer, the at least one controller comprising a power connector, the at least one controller being configured to perform or direct performance of: (a) comparison of three-dimensional printers to a standard to generate a printer comparison, the three-dimensional printers being selected by a user, the standard relating to components of the three-dimensional printers; (b) output of the printer comparison to the user for a choice of the three-dimensional printer; (c) analysis of a first data collected by a first sensor to identify a first deviation from a first expected value, the first sensor being configured to sense a first aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the first aspect comprising a first variable of the printing; (d) analysis of a second data collected by a second sensor to identify a second deviation from a second expected value, the second sensor being configured to sense a second aspect of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object, the second sensor being different from the first sensor in sensor type and/or in sensor location, the second aspect comprising a second variable of the printing; (e) assessment of quality of the printing of the at least one three-dimensional object to generate a result by considering at least (I) the first deviation and (II) the second deviation, the result comprising a third aspect, the third aspect being different from the first aspect, the third aspect being different from the second aspect, the result comprising an integration of (i) the first data collected by the first sensor and (ii) the second data collected by the second sensor, wherein the integration is based at least in part on the choice of the three-dimensional printer utilized for the printing among the three-dimensional printers; and (f) use the three-dimensional printer chosen to print the at least one three-dimensional object based at least in part on the result. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, stamping of a third data collected, the stamping comprising time stamping and location stamping, the third data being collected by the first sensor and/or by the second sensor; and wherein the at least one three-dimensional object is printed layerwise, and wherein location of the location stamping corresponds to a location of a layer as part of the at least one three-dimensional object and the user is able access a fourth data relating to the layer, the fourth date being from the first data, from the second data, or from the third data. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising a sensor; and optionally wherein the sensor is selected from hundreds of sensors of each three-dimensional printer of the three-dimensional printers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, averaging sensor data of the sensor, the averaging being over a number of layers of the at least one three-dimensional object. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the sensor configured to sense a target surface of the printing to generate a topographical map of the target surface, the topographical map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the sensor configured to sense the target surface of the printing to generate a reflectivity map of the target surface, the reflectivity map being a layerwise three-dimensional map corresponding to the layers of the at least one three-dimensional object. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the sensor selected from at least hundreds of sensors of each of the three-dimensional printers. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising a transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent configured to transform during the printing a starting material to a transformed material, the starting material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent being a laser beam having a stability property during the three-dimensional printing. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the transforming agent being laser the beam having the stability property as a function of time during the three-dimensional printing. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the transforming agent being laser the beam having an alignment property with a target surface of the printing. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the transforming agent being the laser beam having the alignment property as a function of time, the alignment property being with the target surface of the printing. ### Claim 38 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising a transforming agent utilized in the printing, the transforming agent being a laser beam having a focus property on a target surface of the printing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the transforming agent being the laser beam having a focus as a function of time, the focus property being on the target surface of the printing. ### Claim 40 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising an optical component of each of the three-dimensional printers. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the optical component having a thermal lensing property during the printing. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the optical components having the thermal lensing property as a function of time during the printing. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the optical component being disposed in, or above, a roof of an enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the optical components comprises an optical window through which a transforming agent traverses into an enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the optical component is configured to direct a transforming agent to traverse into an enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing utilizing the transforming agent utilized in the printing. ### Claim 46 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising a gas conveyance system. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain an internal atmosphere in an enclosure different from an ambient atmosphere external to the enclosure in which the at least one three-dimensional object is disposed during the printing. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain the internal atmosphere having an internal pressure different from an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain the internal atmosphere having the internal pressure different from the ambient pressure, the internal pressure being above ambient pressure. ### Claim 50 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain an internal atmosphere having at least one reactive agent at an internal concentration different from an ambient concentration of the at least one reactive agent of in ambient atmosphere, the at least one reactive agent being configured to react during the printing with a starting material of the printing. ### Claim 51 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain a level of contaminants below a threshold, the contaminants being generated during the printing. ### Claim 52 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to, during the printing, maintain a level of contaminants comprising hardened material that does not form a part of the at least one three-dimensional object; and optionally wherein the hardened material comprises soot. ### Claim 53 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system configured to recycle gas flowing in the gas conveyance system. ### Claim 54 (depends on 46) The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system operatively coupled to a material recycling system configured to recycle a remainder of a starting material for the printing. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the gas conveyance system operatively coupled to the material recycling system comprising a powder recirculation filter; and optionally wherein the at least one controller is configured to output, or direct output of, (i) status of the powder recirculation filter, and/or (ii) a remainder material of number of layers that was sieved by the material recycling system. ### Claim 56 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising a layer dispenser configured to successively dispense layers of powder material to generate a material bed from which the at least one three-dimensional object is printed during the printing. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the layer dispenser configured to successively dispense planar layers of powder material to generate the material bed from which the at least one three-dimensional object is printed during the printing. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, comparing the three-dimensional printers to the standard to generate the printer comparison, the standard relating to the components comprising the layer dispenser configured to successively dispense the layers of powder material comprising an elemental metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic, or an allotrope of elemental carbon. ### Claim 59 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, generating a three-dimensional map of one or more characteristics of the at least one three-dimensional object comprising porosity. ### Claim 60 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to perform, or direct performance of, utilizing a threshold tolerance of a variable, the threshold tolerance being altered by the user, the variable comprising the first variable or the second variable.