An inspection system for in situ evaluation of an additive manufacturing (AM) build part is provided. The inspection system comprises a build plane induction coil sensor configured and positionable so that during construction of the build part, the sensor's magnetization and sensor coils surround at least the last-produced layer of the AM build part in the build plane. The inspection system further comprises an energization circuit and a central processing system. The central processing system comprises a communication processor configured for sending command signals to the energization circuit and receiving impedance data from the build plane induction coil sensor, and energization controller configured for determining energization commands for transmission to the energization circuit, and an induction data analyzer configured for processing build part impedance data using complex impedance plane analysis and for identifying anomalies in the AM build part.

A method, of manufacturing a series of objects is disclosed. In the method, a layer of a manufacturing medium is provided. Portions of the layer of the medium, are bond together at at least edge regions of the layer to form a support portion. The support portion is lowered while gripping the support portion by the edge regions of the layer. A further layer of the medium is provided supported by the support portion. Portions of the further layer of the medium are selectively bound to form at least an object portion. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

In an example, a method includes obtaining a compensation model characterising a relationship between a location of an object within a fabrication chamber of an additive manufacturing apparatus and a geometrical compensation to be applied to a model of said object, wherein different geometrical compensation values are associated with different locations. In some examples the method further includes determining a magnitude of a dimension parameter of each object of a set of objects to be generated in a build operation. The method may include determining a spatial arrangement of objects to be generated within the build volume, based on the magnitude of the dimension parameters and the geometrical compensation values for an intended location of object generation in the spatial arrangement.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

A control system for a three-dimensional printer includes an energy component interface, an agent depositing component interface, and control logic. The control logic controls the operation of an energy component through the energy component interface and an agent depositing component through the agent depositing component, in forming an output object that is specified in a print job. Additionally, in some examples, the control logic can implement a plurality of modes. Each mode, when selected modulate one or more operational parameters of a least one of the energy component or agent depositing component.

A control system for a three-dimensional printer includes an energy component interface, an agent depositing component interface, and control logic. The control logic controls the operation of an energy component through the energy component interface and an agent depositing component through the agent depositing component, in forming an output object that is specified in a print job. Additionally, in some examples, the control logic can implement a plurality of modes. Each mode, when selected modulate one or more operational parameters of a least one of the energy component or agent depositing component.

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.

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 machining centre comprising a machining plane; a subtractive unit for performing chip removal on a workpiece positioned on the machining plane; the subtractive unit comprising a first carriage that is slidable parallel to an operating axis; an additive unit arranged to perform machining by additive production techniques on the machining plane; the additive unit comprising a second carriage that is slidable along the operating axis. The additive unit is provided with a first coupling portion and said subtractive unit is provided with a second coupling portion couplable with the first coupling portion. In one step, the subtractive unit adopts a pick-up configuration in which the first coupling portion is coupled with the second coupling portion to connect the subtractive unit to the additive unit at least along the operating axis. In the pick-up configuration, the subtractive unit, connected to the additive unit, is configured to move the additive unit.