An additive manufacturing system includes a laser array including a plurality of laser devices. Each laser device of the plurality of laser devices generates an energy beam for forming a melt pool in a powder bed. The additive manufacturing system further includes at least one optical element. The optical element receives at least one of the energy beams and induces a predetermined power diffusion in the at least one energy beam.

A selective laser solidification apparatus including; a powder bed onto which powder layers can be deposited, at least one laser module for generating a plurality of laser beams for solidifying the powder material deposited onto the powder bed, a laser scanner for individually steering each laser beam to solidify separate areas in each powder layer, and a processing unit. A scanning zone for each laser beam is defined by the locations on the powder bed to which the laser beam can be steered by the laser scanner. The laser scanner is arranged such that each scanning zone is less than the total area of powder bed and at least two of the scanning zones overlap. The processing unit is arranged for selecting, for at least one powder layers, which laser beam to use to scan an area of the powder layer located within a region wherein the seaming zones overlap.

Method for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, whereby flow of an inert process gas, preferably an inert gas or containing inert gas, is created, the inert process gas flowing through a chamber (3, 10) of at least one build apparatus (2) which is configured to additively manufacture three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, and/or through a chamber of at least one apparatus (2) which is configured to perform at least one pre-processing step of an additive manufacturing process, and/or through a chamber of at least one at least one apparatus (2) which is configured to perform at least one post-processing step of an additive manufacturing process, wherein the flow of process gas displaces a certain volume of fluid from the chamber (3, 10).

An optical module for a machine for machining workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by way of location-selective solidification of material powder into contiguous regions by a laser beam includes a housing for releasably fastening the optical module to the machine and a collimation optics changer releasably arranged in the housing, having at least two collimation optics which can be moved into a beam path of the laser beam for collimating the laser beam. The collimation optics changer has a mechanism for automatically changing the collimation optics.

A 3D printing system uses heat sources, such as lasers, for manufacturing parts in metal additive manufacturing, such as powder-bed fusion, on one or more movable build modules. The build modules may be moved (e.g., by a conveyor system) into and out of a lasing module. Parts may be manufactured on multiple build modules simultaneously and/or sequentially, in some cases while the build module(s) are moving relative to the heat sources. Sensor(s) are arranged to determine a position, orientation, and/or movement of the build modules and feedback from the sensor(s) may be used to control the heat sources to compensate for motion of the build modules.

Wire arc additive manufacturing-spinning combined machining device and method are provided. The machining device includes a spinning mechanism and a fused deposition modeling mechanism. The spinning mechanism includes a machine tool and a spinning head. The spinning head is installed on the machine tool by a main shaft, and the main shaft is configured to drive the spinning head to rotate to achieve the movement in three vertical directions. The spinning head includes a spinning base and balls. Each of the balls is installed in a corresponding one of arc grooves at a bottom of the spinning base. The fused deposition modeling mechanism includes a moving track, a robot and a heat source generator. The arc moving track is arranged around the machine tool in a surrounding mode. The robot is movably installed on the moving track. The heat source generator is installed at a tail end of the robot.

An apparatus for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by successive layer-by-layer selective illumination and thus selective solidification of construction material layers formed in a construction plane, consisting of a solidifiable construction material by at least one energy beam, comprising a housing structure, and a combined coating and illumination assembly firmly arranged or formed on the housing structure of the apparatus, comprising a coating device provided for applying the construction material into the construction plane and for forming construction material layers to be solidified in the construction plane, and an illumination device provided for the selective illumination of respective construction material layers formed in the construction plane by the coating device, and a carrying device.

A curable resin or adhesive composition includes at least one monomer, a photoinitiator capable of initiating polymerization of the monomer when exposed to light, and at least one energy converting material, preferably a phosphor, capable of producing light when exposed to radiation (typically X-rays). The material is particularly suitable for bonding components at ambient temperature in situations where the bond joint is not accessible to an external light source. An associated method includes: placing a polymerizable adhesive composition, including a photoinitiator and energy converting material, such as a down-converting phosphor, in contact with at least two components to be bonded to form an assembly; and, irradiating the assembly with radiation at a first wavelength, capable of conversion (down-conversion by the phosphor) to a second wavelength capable of activating the photoinitiator, to prepare items such as inkjet cartridges, wafer-to-wafer assemblies, semiconductors, integrated circuits, and the like.

A printing apparatus is for printing a three-dimensional object. The apparatus includes an operative surface, an energy source for emitting at least one energy beam onto the operative surface and a powder dispensing mechanism for depositing powder onto the operative surface, the powder being adapted to be melted by the or each energy beam. The powder dispensing mechanism is configured to deposit multiple layers of powder onto the operative surface simultaneously.

A printing apparatus is for printing a three-dimensional object. The apparatus includes an operative surface, an energy source for emitting at least one energy beam onto the operative surface and a powder dispensing mechanism for depositing powder onto the operative surface, the powder being adapted to be melted by the or each energy beam. The powder dispensing mechanism is configured to deposit multiple layers of powder onto the operative surface simultaneously.