Methods including providing an actual formation core sample; determining an internal anatomy of at least a portion of the actual formation core sample; determining a virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample in a computer readable format, wherein the virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample is represented by successive 2D cross-sectional layers; providing a 3D printer; transmitting the virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample to the 3D printer; and printing a facsimile core sample using the 3D printer, thereby replicating at least a portion of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample.

There is disclosed a method for the production of a three-dimensional product (2) via an additive layer manufacturing process such as an electron beam manufacturing process to selectively fuse parts (17) of a powder bed (16), said parts (17) corresponding to successive cross-sections of the product (2). The method involves the use of said additive layer manufacturing process to form a tool (12) by selectively fusing additional parts (18) of the powder bed (16), said additional parts (18) corresponding to successive cross-sections of the tool (12). The method also comprises a subsequent step of manipulating the tool (12) perform a processing function on the product (2).

The present disclosure relates to new materials comprising Al, Co, Fe, and Ni. The new materials may realize a single phase field of a face-centered cubic (fcc) solid solution structure immediately below the solidus temperature of the material. The new materials may include at least one precipitate phase and have a solvus temperature of at least 1000 C. The new materials may include 4.4-11.4 wt. % Al, 4.9-42.2 wt. % Co, 4.6-28.9 wt. % Fe, and 44.1-86.1 wt. % Ni. In one embodiment, the precipitate is selected from the group consisting of the L1.sub.2 phase, the B2 phase, and combinations thereof. The new alloys may realize improved high temperature properties.

A part obtained by selective melting of a powder on a support plate having a main element and rigid secondary elements arranged between the main element and the support plate, and adapted to be detached from the main element. All or part of the secondary elements comprises a body of thickness E and a head of width L greater than the thickness E of this body, the body connected to the support plate and the head connected to main element. All or part of the secondary elements includes a region of connection between the head and the body. The head of the secondary element extends over at most half the height H of this element.

Provided is a method for bonding dissimilar metals to each other, the method comprising: dissimilar metal layer-forming steps (P2), (P3), (P4) for supplying, to form dissimilar metal layers; a second metal layer-forming step (P5) for supplying, on the surface of the dissimilar metal layers, a filler material formed of a second metal, and heating the filler material formed of the second metal to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the second metal, to form a second metal layer formed of the second metal; and a second material-to-be-bonded welding step (P6) for welding a second material to be bonded that is formed of the second metal, onto the second metal layer.

A method and an apparatus for collecting a powdered material after a print job in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involve a build platform supporting a powder bed capable of tilting, inverting, and shaking to separate the powder bed substantially from the build platform in a hopper. The powdered material may be collected in a hopper for reuse in later print jobs. The powder collecting process may be automated to increase efficiency of powder bed fusion additive manufacturing.

This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.

An excess metal amount setting method includes: a thermal shrinkage prediction step of predicting a thermal shrinkage amount in the deposited body after manufacturing; a thermal shrinkage modifying step of obtaining a thermal deformation modifying profile by expanding a target profile according to the thermal shrinkage amount; a release strain prediction step of predicting an elastic deformation amount due to release strain of the deposited body after machining; an elastic deformation modifying step of obtaining an elastic deformation modifying profile by deforming the thermal deformation modifying profile according to the elastic deformation amount in a direction opposite to a deformation direction due to the release strain; and an excess metal amount setting step of adjusting an outer edge shape of the deposited body so that an excess metal amount from the elastic deformation modifying profile to an outer edge of the deposited body falls within a predetermined reference range.

A beam adjustment method includes: installing, on an irradiation surface to which an electron beam is radiated, a detection part having a Faraday cup catching electrical charges of the electron beam, and installing, on a side of an electron gun further than the detection part, a shielding plate having opening holes through which the electron beam is passable. The method includes causing, upon performing beam diameter measurement processing, the electron beam to pass through the opening holes, and radiating the electron beam to the Faraday cup. In addition, the method includes radiating, upon performing normal processing, the electron beam to the shielding plate.

An additive manufacturing device performs manufacturing of an additively manufactured article by supplying a powder material to an irradiation region of an electron beam, laying and leveling the powder material, irradiating the powder material with the electron beam, and melting the powder material. The additive manufacturing device determines whether or not the powder material has scattered during manufacturing of the article. When it is determined that the powder material has scattered, an irradiation region R is heated by a heater before a new powder material is supplied to the irradiation region R. Manufacturing of the article is restarted after the new powder material has been supplied to the heated irradiation region.