US 2021/0197485 A1 · 3D OBJECT PART SECTION FORMATION

Abstract

According to examples, an apparatus may include forming components and a controller to control the forming components to fuse build material particles located in a selected area of a layer of build material particles forming a part section of a 3D object, in which the selected area is within and borders a selected boundary. The controller may also wait for a period of time to allow the part section to shrink to form a shrunken part section and, following the period of time, fuse build material particles located in a certain area around the shrunken part section, in which the certain area occupies a preset distance originating around the selected boundary of the layer of build material particles and extending toward an interior of the part section, and the preset distance corresponds to an amount of shrinkage predicted to occur in the part section during the period of time.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

forming components;
and
a controller to control the forming components to:
fuse build material particles located in a selected area of a layer of build material particles, wherein build material particles in the selected area form a part section of a three-dimensional (3D) object, and wherein the selected area is within and borders a selected boundary on the layer;
wait for a period of time to allow the part section to shrink to form a shrunken part section;
and
following the period of time, fuse build material particles located in a certain area around the shrunken part section, wherein the certain area occupies a preset distance originating around the selected boundary of the layer of build material particles and extending toward an interior of the part section, and wherein the preset distance corresponds to an amount of shrinkage predicted to occur in the part section during the period of time.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

fusing build material particles located in a selected area of a layer of build material particles, wherein build material particles in the selected area of the layer of build material particles form a part section of a three-dimensional (3D) object, and wherein the selected area is within and borders a selected boundary on the layer;
waiting for a period of time, wherein the part section is to shrink during the period of time to form a shrunken part section;
and
following the period of time, fusing build material particles located in a certain area around the shrunken part section, wherein the certain area occupies a preset distance originating at the selected boundary of the layer of build material particles and extending toward an interior of the shrunken part section, and wherein the preset distance corresponds to an amount of shrinkage that is expected to occur by the part section during the period of time.

1 more element

A three-dimensional (3D) printer comprising:

a recoater to spread build material particles into a layer;
an agent delivery device;
an energy source;
and
a controller to:
control the agent delivery device to deliver a fusing agent within a selected boundary on a layer of build material particles, wherein build material particles in the selected area form a part section of a three-dimensional (3D) object;
control the energy source to apply fusing energy onto the layer of build material particles to melt and fuse the build material particles located within the selected boundary;
wait for a period of time, wherein the part section is to shrink during the period of time to form a shrunken part section;
control the agent delivery device to deliver fusing agent onto build material particles located in a certain area around the shrunken part section after the period of time;
and
control the energy source to apply fusing energy onto the layer of build material particles to melt build material particles located in the certain area.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

3d object part section formation

Life of this patent

3d object part section formation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15