3d printer with a uv light absorbing agent

Abstract

According to an example, a three-dimensional (3D) printer may include a delivery device to deposit a light absorbing agent onto selected areas of a layer of build material particles, in which the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are around the ultraviolet wavelength range. The 3D printer may also include a light source to apply light onto the selectively deposited light absorbing agent and the layer of the build material particles, in which the light absorbing agent absorbs light around the ultraviolet wavelength range from the applied light and becomes heated to a temperature that causes the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt and to fuse together following cessation of the application of the light.

1 . A three-dimensional (3D) printer comprising:
 a delivery device to deposit a light absorbing agent onto selected areas of a layer of build material particles, wherein the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are around the ultraviolet wavelength range; and   a light source to apply light onto the selectively deposited light absorbing agent and the layer of the build material particles, wherein the light absorbing agent absorbs light around the ultraviolet wavelength range from the applied light and becomes heated to a temperature that causes the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt and to fuse together following cessation of the application of the light.   
     
     
         2 . The 3D printer according to  claim 1 , wherein a second agent is deposited onto locations of the layer of build material particles, wherein the second agent is mixed with the light absorbing agent, and wherein the second agent has a property that differs from a property of the light absorbing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The 3D printer according to  claim 2 , wherein the second agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are around the infrared wavelength range and becomes heated and wherein the second agent assists the light absorbing agent in heating the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt. 
     
     
         4 . The 3D printer according to  claim 3 , wherein the light absorbing agent and the second agent are tuned to sufficiently heat the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent and the second agent have been deposited to melt during application of the light. 
     
     
         5 . The 3D printer according to  claim 2 , wherein a third agent is deposited onto locations of the layer of build material particles, wherein the third agent is mixed with the light absorbing agent and the second agent, and wherein the third agent has a color that differs from colors of the light absorbing agent and the second agent. 
     
     
         6 . The 3D printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are within a range of wavelengths from about 200 nm and about 400 nm, the build material particles are white or transparent and the light absorbing agent is colorless or reflective in a visible spectrum. 
     
     
         7 . The 3D printer according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor to control the delivery device and the light source.   
     
     
         8 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a recoater to spread a plurality of build material particles into a layer;   a delivery device to deposit light absorbing agent onto selected areas of the layer of build material particles, wherein the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are below around 420 nm and becomes heated to a temperature that is sufficiently high to cause the build material particles upon which the energy absorbing agent has been deposited to melt; and   a light source to apply light onto the deposited light absorbing agent and the layer of build material particles, wherein the light absorbing agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are below around 420 nm from the applied light and becomes heated to a temperature that causes the build material particles upon which the light absorbing agent has been deposited to melt and to subsequently fuse together following cessation of the application of the light.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second delivery device to selectively deposit a second agent onto locations of the layer of build material particles to mix the second agent with the light absorbing agent, wherein the second agent absorbs light having wavelengths that are near the infrared range.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a controller to control the delivery device to apply different volumes of the light absorbing agent to different selected areas of the layer of build material particles to vary amounts of heating applied by the light absorbing agent to the build material particles at the selected areas.