WO2022159177A1

WO2022159177A1 - Additive fabrication system

Info

Publication number: WO2022159177A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/061737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Javier RAMOS; David B. Russell; Howard KELLOGG
Original assignee: Inkbit, LLC
Priority date: 2021-01-20
Filing date: 2021-12-03
Publication date: 2022-07-28

Abstract

A manufacturing system includes an additive fabrication system configured to fabricate objects on build plates and an automated loading system for loading build plates prior for fabrication thereon from a storage system into the additive fabrication system, and unloading build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system and into the storage system

Description

ADDITIVE FAB RICATION SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/139,412 filed January 20, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to an additive manufacturing production system.

[0003] Additive manufacturing is a set of methods that allows objects to be fabricated via selective addition of material. A typical additive manufacturing process works by slicing a digital model (for example, represented using an STL file) into a series of layers. Then the layers are sent to a fabrication apparatus that deposits the layers one by one from the bottom to the top. Additive manufacturing is rapidly gaining popularity in a variety of markets including automotive, aerospace, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and industrial tooling.

[0004] Inkjet 3D printing is a method of additive manufacturing where printheads deposit droplets of printable material, also called ink. Printheads are typically mounted on a gantry system to allow deposition of printable liquid matrix material in different locations of the build volume. A build plate may also move with respect to the printheads, which may be stationary. The printable liquid matrix material is solidified using UV or visible-light radiation.

[0005] Additive manufacturing techniques are often employed to create a functional or aesthetic prototype of an item. The prototype of the item is then used to configure another manufacturing system (e.g., an injection molding system) that produces larger quantities of the item in a production setting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Aspects described herein are related to an additive fabrication system that is configured to produce large quantities of items in a production setting.

[0007] In a general aspect, a manufacturing system includes an additive fabrication system configured to fabricate objects on build plates and an automated loading system for loading build plates prior for fabrication thereon from a storage system into the additive fabrication system and unloading build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system and into the storage system.

[0008] Aspects may include one or more of the following features.

[0009] The automated loading system may include an automated loading mechanism for loading the build plates prior to fabrication thereon from the storage system into the additive fabrication system. The automated loading system may include an automated unloading mechanism for unloading the build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system. The automated loading mechanism may load the build plates prior to fabrication thereon from a first storage area of the storage system, and the automated unloading mechanism may unload the build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system into a second storage area of the storage system, different from the first storage area.

[0010] The storage system may store the build plates prior to fabrication thereon and the build plates after fabrication thereon in a same storage area of the storage system. The storage system may be detachable from the manufacturing system. The automated loading system may include one or more revolving shelving carousels. The one or more revolving shelving carousels may each include a loading mechanism in a fixed position on the revolving shelving carousel. The loading mechanism may include a controllable platform configured to transport a build plate.

[0011] The manufacturing system may include an additive fabrication system including a number of stationary printheads and a motion system for transporting a build plate relative to the stationary print heads. The motion system may transport the build plate along three degrees of freedom relative to the stationary printheads. The manufacturing system may include a controller configured to coordinate operation of the number of printheads and the motion system to fabricate the objects on the build plates. The controller may be configured to synchronize operation between the printheads and the platform. The controller may be configured to control loading and unloading build plates.

[0012] The additive fabrication system may include one or more material curing units. At least some of the one or more material curing units may include ultraviolet light sources. The additive fabrication system may include one or more scanning modules. The additive fabrication system may include one or more cooling units. The controller may be configured to calibrate the printheads and the motion system to a common coordinate system. [0013] In another general aspect, a method includes, for each build plate of a number of build plates, automatically loading the build plate from a storage system into an additive fabrication system configured to fabricate objects on build plates, fabricating one or more objects on the build plate in using the additive fabrication system, and automatically unloading the build plate including the one or more fabricated objects into the storage system.

[0014] Aspects may have one or more of the following advantages.

[0015] The system advantageously uses a single-pass inkjet architecture such that the inkjet printhead array covers the entire width of the build platform - in every pass the system deposits a full layer of material. The system advantageously uses a rollerless design to avoids wasting material by eliminating the need to mechanically planarize.

[0016] Another advantage of the system is that it is modular. For example, the system is configurable in terms of number of material modules and printheads per module and provides the flexibility to have systems with different performance characteristics for a given use case. Modularity of the certain units (scanner, print modules, cleaning stations, etc.) also enables designing product versions without having to fundamentally redesign the whole system.

[0017] The system is advantageously able to fabricate objects autonomously. Autonomous fabrication is the ability of the system to operate without operator tending beyond maintenance activities specified in the standard operating procedures. For example, the system is able to operate up to a few days untended.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a manufacturing system.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a first step of a fabrication process.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a second step of a fabrication process.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a third step of a fabrication process.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a fourth step of a fabrication process.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a fifth step of a fabrication process. [0025] FIG. 7 is a sixth step of a fabrication process.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a seventh step of a fabrication process.

[0027] FIG. 9 is an eighth step of a fabrication process.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a ninth step of a fabrication process.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a tenth step of a fabrication process.

[0030] FIG. 12 is an eleventh step of a fabrication process.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the materials cabinet of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 14 is a second manufacturing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a manufacturing system 100 includes an enclosure 102 with an additive fabrication system 104 disposed therein. The enclosure 102 interfaces with source plate rack 106, a destination plate rack 108, and a materials cabinet 110. Very generally, the manufacturing system 100 is configured to produce quantities of objects by automatically managing loading and unloading of build plates into and out of the additive fabrication system 104.

1 LOADING AND UNLOADING

[0034] The additive fabrication system 104 includes a printing system 105, a motion system 107, and a controller 111. In some examples, the controller 111 controls loading of build plates 109 into the motion system 106 from the source plate rack 106, fabrication of objects 113 onto the build plates 109, and unloading of finished build plates 115 from the motion system 107 into the destination plate rack 108.

[0035] In some examples, the source plate rack 106 is an automated storage and retrieval system (e.g., a vertical shelving carousel) that includes a number of shelves 121, a revolving mechanism (not shown), and a first loading arm 119. In operation, the controller 111 causes the revolving mechanism of the source plate rack 106 to revolve the shelves 121 (e.g., along an oval track, not shown) until a shelf 121 with an empty build plate 109 is aligned with the first loading arm 119. To load an empty build plate 109 into the motion system 107, the controller 111 commands the first loading arm 119 to engage the empty build plate 109 (e.g., by insertion beneath the empty build plate) and to transport the empty build plate 109 into the enclosure 102, where it is placed into the motion system 107.

[0036] Similarly, in some examples, the destination plate rack 108 is an automated storage and retrieval system that includes a number of shelves 166, a revolving mechanism (not shown), and a second loading arm 117. In operation, when the controller 111 commands the destination plate rack 108 to unload a finished build plate 115 from the motion system 107, the revolving mechanism revolves the shelves 166 until an empty shelf is aligned with the second loading arm 117. The second loading arm 117 engages the finished build plate 115 and moves the finished plate 115 out of the enclosure 102 and into the destination plate rack 108, where it is placed onto the empty shelf 166.

2 OBJECT FABRICATION

[0037] In the time after loading an empty build plate 109 into the motion system 107 and before unloading a finished build plate 115 from the motion system 107 and into the destination plate rack 108, one or more objects 113 are fabricated on the empty build plate 109.

[0038] In general, the controller 111 maintains a specification (e.g., a numerical model) of the one or more objects 113 and coordinates operation of the printing system 105 and the motion system 107 to fabricate the one or more objects 113 on a build plate 109. To do so, the controller 111 coordinates operation of the printing system 105 and the motion system 107 such that the motion system 107 repeatedly moves a build plate 109 back and forth relative to the printing system 105 while the printing system 105 deposits, cures, scans, and cools layers of build material on the build plate 109.

2.1 Motion System

[0039] In some examples, the motion system 107 includes carriage 120 and a rail 122. The carriage 120 is configured to receive and carry a build plate 109 on a carriage platform 232 of the carriage 120. Together, the carriage 120 and the rail 122 are capable of moving the build plate 109 along three degrees of freedom, as commanded by the controller 111. That is, the carriage 120 transports the build plate 109 along a first axis 124 (extending from the left-hand- side to the right-hand- side of FIG. 1) by moving along the rail 122 (e.g., using a linear motor actuator, not shown). The carriage 120 lifts and lowers the build plate 109 along a second axis 126 (extending from the bottom of the page to the top of the page) using an actuator such 128 as ball screw or a lead screw. The carriage 120 also translates the build plate along a third axis 130 (extending into and out of the page) using an actuator such as a ball screw or a lead screw (not shown).

2.2 Printing System

[0040] In some examples, the printing system 105 includes one or more cooling units 112, one or more curing units 114, one or more printheads 116, and one or more scanners 118. In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1, moving along the first axis 124 from left to right, there is a cooling unit 112, a curing unit 114, four printheads 116, another curing unit 114, a scanner 118, and another cooling unit 112.

[0041] Very generally, each of the printheads 116 deposits material (e.g., build material or support material drawn from material supplies stored in the materials cabinet 110) onto the build plate 109 as the build plate 109 moves beneath the printheads 116 to form the one or more objects 113. As the build plate 109 moves beneath the curing units 114, the curing units 114 cure or begin curing the material deposited by the printheads 116 on the build plate 109 using, for example, ultraviolet light. In some examples, the curing units 114 include light sources necessary to rapidly polymerize our materials. For example, the light sources produce high intensity UV (>10 W/cm2). In some examples, the light sources include 405 nm LEDs, though sources with other wavelengths may be fitted to optimize curing for other pigment and photoinitiator combinations.

[0042] As the build plate 109 moves beneath the cooling units 112, the cooling units 112 force air onto the curing material on the build plate 109 to remove heat from the curing material. One example of a cooling unit 112 that may be used in the printing system 105 is described in U.S Patent Application No. 17/085,376 (U.S. Patent Pub. No. ), titled “Thermal Management for Additive Manufacturing,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0043] As the build plate 109 moves beneath the scanner 118, the scanner 118 measures the surface of the one or more objects 113 on the build plate 109. In some examples, the surface data measured by the scanner 118 is used in a feedback approach to improve the accuracy and precision of the printing process. Examples of a scanners that may be used in the printing system 105 are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16/656,060 (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2020/0124403), titled “High-Speed Metrology,” U.S. Patent Application No. 16/672,711 (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2020/0143006), titled “Intelligent Additive Manufacturing,” and U.S. Patent Application No. 16/936,776 (U.S. Patent No. 11,072,120), titled “Edge Profilometer,” the contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0044] Examples of feedback approaches used in the printing system 105 are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14/645,616 (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0023403), titled “Systems and Methods of Machine Vision Assisted Additive Fabrication” and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/843,543 (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2018/0169953), titled “Adaptive Material Deposition for Additive Manufacturing,” the contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0045] In some examples, having cooling units 112 and curing units 114 on both sides of the printheads 116 allows the printing system 105 to deposit material both when the carriage 120 moves from left to right along the first axis 124 and when the carriage 120 moves from right to left along the first axis 124, as is described in greater detail below.

3 EXEMPLARY OPERATION

[0046] Referring to FIGs. 2-12, an exemplary operation of the manufacturing system 100 is described. For simplicity, the materials cabinet 110 is not shown in FIGs. 2-12.

[0047] Referring FIG. 2, prior to fabricating one or more objects on a build plate 209, the build plate 209 is aligned with the first loading arm 119 of the source plate rack 106. A carriage platform 232 of the carriage 120 is empty and prepared to receive the build pate 209.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 111 causes the first loading arm 119 of the source plate rack 106 to engage the build plate 209 and remove the build plate 209 from a shelf 121 of the source plate rack 106 and to load the build plate 209 onto the carriage platform 232 of the carriage 120. In some examples, the build plate 209 is aligned into a predetermined position on the carriage platform 232 using an alignment mechanism (not shown, e.g., a number of magnets configured to interface with and align the build plate 209 on the carriage platform 232).

[0049] Referring to FIG. 4, after the build plate 209 is loaded onto the carriage platform 232 of the carriage 120, the controller 111 causes the revolving mechanism of the source plate rack 106 to revolve the shelves 121 (e.g., along an oval track, not shown) until a shelf with another empty build plate 109 is aligned with the first loading arm 119 (e.g., to prepare for fabrication of objects on a next build plate). [0050] Referring to FIG. 5, with the build plate 209 loaded onto the carriage platform 232 of the carriage 120, the controller 111 causes the motion system 107 to move the carriage 120 along the first axis 124 (and possibly along the second axis 126 and third axis 130 as well) toward the right-hand- side of FIG. 5, past the printheads 116. As the motion system 107 moves the carriage 120 past the printhead 116, the controller 111 causes the printheads 116 to deposit a layer of material on the build plate 209, thus beginning to form one or more objects 513. As is mentioned above, in some examples, the controller 111 carefully coordinates the timing of the movement of the motion system 107 and the material deposition from the printhead 116 to ensure that the correct material is deposited at the correct location on the build plate 209 (or on material previously deposited on the build plate 209).

[0051] Referring to FIG. 6, the controller 111 causes the motion system 107 to continue moving the carriage 120 along the first axis 124 (and possibly the second axis 126 and third axis 130) past the curing unit 114 where curing of the deposited material forming the one or more objects 513 on the build plate 209 is initiated (e.g., by illuminating the deposited material with ultraviolet light).

[0052] Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 111 causes the motion system 107 to continue moving the carriage 120 along the first axis 124 (and possibly the second axis 126 and third axis 130) past the scanner 118, which measures the surface of the one or more objects 513 on the build plate 209.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 8, the controller 111 causes the motion system 107 to continue moving the carriage 120 along the first axis 124 (and possibly the second axis 126 and third axis 130) until it is beneath the cooling unit 112. The cooling unit 112 forces air onto the one or more objects 513 on the build plate 209 to remove heat caused, at least in part, by the ongoing material curing process.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 9, the controller 111 causes the motion system 107 to move the carriage platform 232 along the second axis 126 in a direction away from the printing system 105 to increase the clearance between the printing system 105 and the one more objects 513 on the build plate 209. The controller 111 then coordinates the motion system 107 and the printing system 105 to deposit, cure, and cool another layer of material on the build plate 209 (or on the material previously deposited on the build plate 209) as the build plate is moved toward the left-hand- side of FIG. 9.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 10, the controller 111 continues to cause the motion system 107 to move the carriage 120 back and forth relative to the printing system 105 and continues to cause the printing system 105 to deposit, cure, scan, and cool material. Eventually, the fabrication process finishes, resulting in finished objects 1013 on the build plate 209.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 111 commands the destination plate rack 108 to unload the build plate 209 including the finished objects 1013 from the motion system 107. The controller’s command causes the second loading arm 117 of the destination plate rack 108 to engage the build plate 209 and move the build plate 209 out of the enclosure 102 and into the destination plate rack 108, where it is placed onto an empty shelf 166.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 12, the controller 111 then causes the motion system 107 to move the carriage 120 along the first axis 124, the second axis 126, and the third axis 130 to reset the carriage 120 to a position for receiving an empty build plate 1209 from the source plate rack 106. The process then repeats, loading the empty build plate 1209 into the motion system 107, fabricating one or more objects on the empty build plate 1209, and unloading the finished build plate into the destination plate rack 108, as is described above.

[0058] In some examples, the loading, fabricating, and unloading process described above repeats without requiring human intervention until a desired number of objects are fabricated.

4 MATERIALS CABINET

[0059] Referring to FIG. 13, the materials cabinet 110 is configured to house print materials and supply those print materials to the printheads 116. In some examples, the materials cabinet 110 includes a number of bays 1340, where each bay 1340 is configured to house print material for a corresponding one or more of the printheads 116.

[0060] A material container 1342 (e.g., a barrel, a bottle, or a “bag in a box”) is located in each of the bays 1340. Each material container 1342 includes a RFID identifier 1344 (or another suitable identifier such as a QR code or bar code). When a material container 1342 is installed in a bay 1340, an RFID reader 1346 (or another suitable reader) reads the RFID identifier 1344 to determine attributes of the material container such as the material type, material properties, the material quantity, and printhead configuration information. The attributes determined from the RFID identifier 1344 are provided to the printhead 116 associated with the bay 1340 and the controller 111 for configuring the printing system 105. Each material container 1342 also includes a level sensor 1348 for measuring an amount of remaining material in the material container 1342 and for communicating the measured amount to the controller 111. In some examples, the material containers 1342 are in fluid communication with bulk material supplies (e.g., vats or barrels of materials, not shown) and are automatically refilled from the bulk containers when the level sensors 1348 determine that the material levels in the material containers 1342 are low.

[0061] Each bay 1340 also includes a pump 1350 in fluid communication with the material container 1342 for extracting print material from the material container 1342. The print material extracted from the material container 1342 is passed through a filter 1352 before being supplied to the printhead 116. A pressure sensor 1354 monitors the pressure of the print material between the pump 1350 and the filter 1352. The monitored pressure from the pressure sensor 1354 is used to regulate the pressure of the material between the pump 1350 and the filter 1352.

[0062] In some examples, the material containers 1342 (or the bulk material containers, not shown) include agitators to mix the print material contained therein. In other examples, the bays include heaters to maintain print materials at a predetermined temperature (e.g., to maintain wax materials in a liquid state). In yet other examples, the materials cabinet includes one or more reservoirs of cleaning fluid for cleaning the various components of the materials cabinet that come into contact with build materials.

5 ALTERNATIVES

[0063] Referring to FIG. 14, an alternative configuration of the manufacturing system 1400 includes a combined source and destination plate rack 1460. The operation of the manufacturing system 1400 is similar to the operation of the manufacturing system 100 described above, but empty build plates 1409 are loaded into motion system 107 from the combined rack 1460 and finished build plates 1415 are unloaded from the motion system 107 back into the combined rack 1460.

[0064] In some examples, the racks for holding empty and finished build plates are easily removed and replaced in the manufacturing system.

[0065] In some examples, the manufacturing system 1400 includes an exhaust system to vent fumes from the enclosure 102 and to maintain a predetermined temperature in the enclosure 102.

[0066] In some examples, the enclosure is configured to prevent hazardous light sources (e.g., UV light) from reaching the print material during fabrication. For example, the enclosure may be entirely opaque or made from a material that is transparent but blocks certain wavelengths (e.g., UV light). In some examples, the printhead faceplates are properly shielded from the UV light. Stray light inside the machine could polymerize material in or adjacent to the printhead nozzles, reducing printhead life. Optionally, the lamps are rotated to align the light cone away from the printhead nozzles.

[0067] In some examples, the system includes printhead cleaning stations. For example, a wax printhead cleaning station operates with a wiper (Buna) to minimize complexity of the cleaning station. The printhead cleaning stations are easily and independently removable to facilitate servicing, cleaning and repairs.

[0068] In some examples, the motion system and the printing system are calibrated to a common coordinate system using, for example, the calibration techniques described in U.S Patent Application No. 16/944,839 (U.S. Patent No. 10,994,490), titled “Calibration for Additive Manufacturing,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0069] In some examples, at least some of the different components of the manufacturing system are modular in that they can be easily removed and replaced. For example, the printheads can be removed and replaced with different types of printheads based on the manufacturing task being performed. In some examples, the printheads (or other components) communicate identification information to the controller once installed and the controller configures the printheads (and possibly other components of the system) based on the identification information and the manufacturing task being performed (including based on the materials being used in the manufacturing task).

[0070] In some examples, the manufacturing system further includes postprocessing units. For example, the finished build plates including the fabricated objects may be automatically placed into hot water baths to remove wax support material, or the finished build plates including the fabricated objects may be subjected to subsequent curing steps.

6 IMPLEMENTATIONS

[0071] The approaches described above can be implemented, for example, using a programmable computing system executing suitable software instructions or it can be implemented in suitable hardware such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or in some hybrid form. For example, in a programmed approach the software may include procedures in one or more computer programs that execute on one or more programmed or programmable computing system (which may be of various architectures such as distributed, client/server, or grid) each including at least one processor, at least one data storage system (including volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one user interface (for receiving input using at least one input device or port, and for providing output using at least one output device or port). The software may include one or more modules of a larger program. The modules of the program can be implemented as data structures or other organized data conforming to a data model stored in a data repository.

[0072] The software may be stored in non-transitory form, such as being embodied in a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or any other non-transitory medium, using a physical property of the medium (e.g., surface pits and lands, magnetic domains, or electrical charge) for a period of time (e.g., the time between refresh periods of a dynamic memory device such as a dynamic RAM). In preparation for loading the instructions, the software may be provided on a tangible, non- transitory medium, such as a CD-ROM or other computer-readable medium (e.g., readable by a general or special purpose computing system or device), or may be delivered (e.g., encoded in a propagated signal) over a communication medium of a network to a tangible, non-transitory medium of a computing system where it is executed. Some or all of the processing may be performed on a special purpose computer, or using special-purpose hardware, such as coprocessors or field- programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or dedicated, application- specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The processing may be implemented in a distributed manner in which different parts of the computation specified by the software are performed by different computing elements. Each such computer program is preferably stored on or downloaded to a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., solid state memory or media, or magnetic or optical media) of a storage device accessible by a general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring and operating the computer when the storage device medium is read by the computer to perform the processing described herein. The system may also be considered to be implemented as a tangible, non-transitory medium, configured with a computer program, where the medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform one or more of the processing steps described herein.

[0073] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, other embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims. For example, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, some of the steps described above may be order independent, and thus can be performed in an order different from that described.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A manufacturing system comprising: an additive fabrication system configured to fabricate objects on build plates; and an automated loading system for loading build plates prior for fabrication thereon from a storage system into the additive fabrication system, and unloading build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system and into the storage system.

2. The manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein the automated loading system includes an automated loading mechanism for loading the build plates prior to fabrication thereon from the storage system into the additive fabrication system.

3. The manufacturing system of claim 2 wherein the automated loading system further includes an automated unloading mechanism for unloading the build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system.

4. The manufacturing system of claim 3 wherein the automated loading mechanism loads the build plates prior to fabrication thereon from a first storage area of the storage system; and the automated unloading mechanism unloads the build plates after fabrication thereon from the additive fabrication system into a second storage area of the storage system, different from the first storage area.

5. The manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein the storage system stores the build plates prior to fabrication thereon and the build plates after fabrication thereon in a same storage area of the storage system.

6. The manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein the storage system is detachable from the manufacturing system.

7. The manufacturing system of claim 2 wherein the automated loading system includes one or more revolving shelving carousels.

8. The manufacturing system of claim 7 wherein the one or more revolving shelving carousels each include a loading mechanism in a fixed position on the revolving shelving carousel.

9. The manufacturing system of claim 8 wherein the loading mechanism includes controllable platform configured to transport a build plate.

10. The manufacturing system of claim 1 further comprising an additive fabrication system including a plurality of stationary printheads and a motion system for transporting a build plate relative to the stationary print heads.

11. The manufacturing system of claim 10 wherein the motion system transports the build plate along three degrees of freedom relative to the stationary printheads.

12. The manufacturing system of claim 11 further comprising a controller configured to coordinate operation of the plurality of printheads and the motion system to fabricate the objects on the build plates.

13. The manufacturing system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to synchronize operation between the printheads and the platform.

14. The manufacturing system of claim 10 further comprising a wherein the controller is configured to control loading and unloading build plates.

15. The manufacturing system of claim 10 wherein the additive fabrication system further includes one or more material curing units.

16. The manufacturing system of claim 15 wherein at least some of the one or more material curing units include ultraviolet light sources.

17. The manufacturing system of claim 10 wherein the additive fabrication system further includes one or more scanning modules.

18. The manufacturing system of claim 10 wherein the additive fabrication system further includes one or more cooling units.

19. The manufacturing system of claim 10 wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the printheads and the motion system to a common coordinate system.

20. A method comprising: for each build plate of a plurality of build plates, automatically loading the build plate from a storage system into an additive fabrication system configured to fabricate objects on build plates; fabricating one or more objects on the build plate in using the additive fabrication system; and automatically unloading the build plate including the one or more fabricated objects into the storage system.

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