Automated additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, printing farm thereof, and method of use thereof

1. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:

securing a segment of a film to a platen assembly of the additive manufacturing system;

printing an information-containing part on the secured segment of the film, wherein the information-containing part comprises encoded information relating to the three-dimensional part;

printing the three-dimensional part on the secured segment of the film;

releasing the secured segment of the film having the printed information-containing part and the printed three-dimensional part thereon from the platen assembly;

removing the released segment of the film having the printed information-containing part and the printed three-dimensional part from the additive manufacturing system, wherein said removing comprises:

drawing the released segment of the film having the printed information-containing part and the printed three-dimensional part thereon from the platen assembly to a removal assembly; and

separating the drawn segment of the film having the printed information-containing part and the printed three-dimensional part thereon from a subsequent segment of the film.

2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

optionally printing a support structure for the three-dimensional part on the secured segment of the film, wherein printing the information-containing part on the secured segment of the film comprises:

printing the information-containing part using the same printing technique and printing material as used for printing the three-dimensional part and/or the support structure for the three-dimensional part.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein printing the information-containing part on the secured segment of the film comprises printing the information-containing part by melt extrusion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein printing the information-containing part on the secured segment of the film comprises printing the information-containing part as a single-layer road.

5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

encoding information with a computer system using an encoding scheme;

generating, with the computer system, tool path data for the information-containing part based on the encoded information; and

transmitting, with the computer system, the generated tool path data for the information-containing part to the additive manufacturing system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein drawing the released segment of the film comprises:

engaging the film with a drive roller;

operating a first motor to generate rotational power; and

rotating the drive roller based on the generated rotational power from the first motor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein separating the drawn segment of the film comprises:

operating a second motor to generate rotational power; and

moving a blade unit across the film based on the generated rotational power from the second motor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the segment of the film against the platen assembly comprises:

biasing a retention bracket of the platen assembly against a surface of the platen assembly, wherein the segment of the film is pressed between the retention bracket and a portion of the surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein securing the segment of the film against the platen assembly further comprises:

drawing a vacuum across the surface to restrain the segment of the film against said surface.

10. A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:

securing a substrate to a platen assembly of the additive manufacturing system, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of holes;

printing one or more layers of a support structure on the secured substrate, wherein portions of the one or printed layers penetrate into at least a portion of the holes in a sprue-like manner to form mushroom heads that lock the support structure to the secured substrate;

printing the three-dimensional part on the one or more printed layers of the support structure;

releasing the substrate having the printed three-dimensional part thereon from the platen assembly; and

removing the printed three-dimensional part and at least a portion of the one or more printed layers of the support structure from the substrate.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the substrate comprises a multi-layer substrate having interior porous regions, and wherein the mushroom heads are formed in the interior porous regions.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the substrate has a first surface and a second opposing surface, and wherein the plurality of holes extend through the first surface and the second opposing surface.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein securing the substrate to the platen assembly comprises locking the substrate to the platen assembly with a plurality of hook features and hook slots.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the platen assembly comprises the hook slots, and the substrate comprises the hook features.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the substrate is derived from one or more polymeric materials, one or more paper-based materials, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein removing the printed three-dimensional part and at least the portion of the one or more printed layers of the support structure comprises cutting the formed mushroom heads.

17. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising:

printing an information-containing part on the secured substrate, wherein the information-containing part comprises encoded information relating to the three-dimensional part.

18. The method of claim 17 , the method further comprising:

encoding information with a computer system using an encoding scheme;

generating, with the computer system, tool path data for the information-containing part based on the encoded information; and

transmitting, with the computer system, the generated tool path data for the information-containing part to the additive manufacturing system.