A method of making a high-end precision gun frame is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing first and second blanks; machining the first blank to form a left-hand open-face half frame; machining the second blank to form a right-hand open-face half frame complementary and substantially symmetrical to the left-hand half frame; aligning/positioning the left-hand half frame and right-hand half frame such that they confront each other; and high energy beam welding the left-hand open-face half frame and the right-hand open-face half frame together selectively along their interface to form the gun frame. The invention enables the low-cost manufacturing of high-end precision guns of exacting specifications with extremely tight tolerances.

A method for layer-by-layer manufacturing of a three-dimensional metallic work piece, comprising the steps of: delivering a metallic feed material in a substantially solid state into a feed region; emitting an electron beam; and translating the electron beam through a first predetermined raster pattern frame in an x-y plane. The method may also include monitoring a condition of one or both of the feed region or the substrate region in real time for the occurrence of any deviation from a predetermined condition; upon detecting of any deviation, translating the electron beam through at least one second predetermined raster pattern frame in the x-y plane that maintains the melting beam power density level substantially the same as the first predetermined raster pattern frame, but alters the substrate beam power density level.

A method for layer-by-layer manufacturing of a three-dimensional metallic work piece, comprising the steps of: delivering a metallic feed material in a substantially solid state into a feed region; emitting an electron beam; and translating the electron beam through a first predetermined raster pattern frame in an x-y plane. The method may also include monitoring a condition of one or both of the feed region or the substrate region in real time for the occurrence of any deviation from a predetermined condition; upon detecting of any deviation, translating the electron beam through at least one second predetermined raster pattern frame in the x-y plane that maintains the melting beam power density level substantially the same as the first predetermined raster pattern frame, but alters the substrate beam power density level.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional target object may include forming a shell from loose machining powder using an additive manufacturing process and subjecting the shell to a densification process to form a target object. The shell may define an enclosure that contains additional machining powder. The densification process may include causing metallurgical bonding between the shell and additional machining powder contained in the enclosure defined by the shell and shrinking and/or distorting the shape of the shell to conform the target object to a three-dimensional model for the target object. The shell may include a plurality of layers and/or parts that differ at least in respect of density. The plurality of layers and/or parts may be configured based at least in part on the shrinking and/or distorting to the shape of the shell needed to conform the target object to the three-dimensional model for the target object.

A method for producing a three-dimensional object by applying layers of a pulverulent construction material and by selectively solidifying said material by the action of energy comprises the steps: a layer of the pulverulent construction material is applied to a support or to a layer of the construction material that has been previously applied and at least selectively solidified; an energy beam from an energy source sweeps over points on the applied layer corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be produced in order to selectively solidify the pulverulent construction material; and a gas flow is guided in a main flow direction (RG) over the applied layer during the sweep of the energy beam. The main flow direction (RG) of the gas flow (G) and the sweep direction (RL) of the energy beam are adapted to one another at least in one region of the cross-section to be solidified.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

The invention relates to a method of welding of at least two metal-based materials (5, 7), non-weldable directly to each other with resistance welding. At least one spacer (6) is joined by welding on at least one of the two surfaces of a material (5) in every interstice between two surfaces of materials to be welded. The welded spacer (6) is utilized so that resistance welding is focused to the surface of the material (5) with the spacer (6) to melt at least one spacer (6) located on the heat affecting zone in order to achieve a weld between the metal-based materials (5, 7).

A method of forming structure on a component includes: providing a component having a first surface; adhering powder to the first surface; and directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a layer of the structure.

An additive manufacturing method for making a metal matrix composite component includes melting a powdered mixture with an electron beam. The powdered mixture comprises powdered tungsten carbide in an amount of 45 wt % to 72 wt % of the powdered mixture and a powdered binder in an amount of 28 wt % to 55 wt % of the powdered mixture. The powdered binder comprises boron, silicon, and nickel.

A method for improving the surface of an aluminum alloy article includes manufacturing the aluminum alloy article using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the article as-manufactured includes one or more of cracks, roughness, or porosity at a surface of the article; coating the surface of the aluminum alloy article with a diffusion element, the diffusion element being capable of diffusing at least 0.2 mils into the article; heating the aluminum alloy article coated with the diffusion element to cause the diffusion element to diffuse the at least 0.2 mils into the article, thereby forming a diffusion layer of at least 0.2 mils in thickness comprising both aluminum alloy and diffusion element; and removing the diffusion layer from the aluminum alloy article, whereby upon the removing, a resulting improved surface of the article comprises fewer or smaller cracks, reduced roughness, or reduced porosity.