Service station serving a print head

An additive manufacturing system, comprising:

• a gantry;
• a print head assembly coupled to the gantry and movable along a process axis (x-axis) relative to a build bed;
• and
• a service station located along the process axis (x-axis),
• wherein the system is configured to service a nozzle plate of the print head assembly while the gantry remains in motion, including performing at least one of:
• applying a cleaning fluid to the nozzle plate,
• removing liquid or particulate material from the nozzle plate using negative pressure, or
• receiving purged liquid droplets from the print head assembly, in an absence of interrupting a fabrication sequence.

A service station for maintaining a jetting print head, comprising:

• a receptacle region configured to receive liquid expelled from a nozzle plate of the print head;
• an aerosol management structure configured to promote coalescence of airborne liquid droplets within the service station;
• at least one cleaning fluid delivery device (903, 904, 1400) configured to direct a cleaning fluid toward internal surfaces of the service station;
• and
• at least one drain path configured to remove accumulated liquid from the service station,
• wherein the service station is configured to reduce accumulation of binder residue and particulate debris during repeated servicing cycles.