The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the gas plume) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the gas plume) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

This disclosure provides systems and tooling for cooling components during additive manufacturing. A build plate supports layers of powdered materials as they are positioned and selectively fused to create the component. The build plate defines a build surface and the build surface retracts in a working direction opposite a build direction for the component. At least one vertical cooling structure is provided perpendicular to the build plate and protruding from the build plate as the build surface retracts. The vertical cooling structure cools at least a portion of the component through unfused powdered materials between the vertical cooling structure and the component.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and tooling for additive manufacturing on a build surface of a pre-existing component. An additive manufacturing tool successively positions layers of powdered materials and selectively fuses the layers of powdered materials to create an additive component on the build surface of the pre-existing component. The pre-existing component is secured in a build plate by a thermal expansion fit during the additive manufacturing process.

A titanium material for hot rolling 1 includes a titanium cast piece 3, and titanium sheets 4 that are welded to faces corresponding to rolling surfaces 3a of the titanium cast piece 3. The titanium cast piece 3 and the titanium sheets 4 have the same kind of chemical composition. The titanium material for hot rolling 1 can maintain good surface properties after hot rolling even if a slabbing process or a finishing process is omitted.

A titanium material for hot rolling 1 includes a titanium cast piece 3, and titanium sheets 4 that are welded to faces corresponding to rolling surfaces 3a of the titanium cast piece 3. The titanium cast piece 3 and the titanium sheets 4 have the same kind of chemical composition. The titanium material for hot rolling 1 can maintain good surface properties after hot rolling even if a slabbing process or a finishing process is omitted.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for welding a workpiece comprising the steps of: making a first weld at a first position on said workpiece with a high energy beam, deflecting the high energy beam with at least one deflection lens for making a second weld at a second position on said workpiece, focusing the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one focusing lens, shaping the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one astigmatism lens so that the shape of the high energy beam on said workpiece is longer in a direction parallel to a deflection direction of said high energy beam than in a direction perpendicular to said deflection direction of said high energy beam. The invention is also related to the use of an astigmatism lens and to a method for forming a three dimensional article.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for welding a workpiece comprising the steps of: making a first weld at a first position on said workpiece with a high energy beam, deflecting the high energy beam with at least one deflection lens for making a second weld at a second position on said workpiece, focusing the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one focusing lens, shaping the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one astigmatism lens so that the shape of the high energy beam on said workpiece is longer in a direction parallel to a deflection direction of said high energy beam than in a direction perpendicular to said deflection direction of said high energy beam. The invention is also related to the use of an astigmatism lens and to a method for forming a three dimensional article.

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a recoater blade to smooth out deposited powder, such that the system can sense forces on the blade and allow vertical and horizontal displacement of the blade in response to those forces. The system can change how the blade responds to those forces, for instance the blade may respond by displacing quickly and easily away from the force (a soft recoater), or it may resist the force (a stiff recoater). This allows a single recoater blade to be used in a variety of situations without work stoppage, whereas before the blade would have to be replaced.

A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.