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.

A converter lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a converter lens that has a negative refractive power and increases a focal length of an entire system. The converter lens includes a front group having a positive refractive power and a rear group having a negative refractive power, and the front group is a lens unit having a combined refractive power having a maximum positive refractive power in a case where the combined refractive power is obtained by combining a refractive power of each lens in order from the lens closest to an object toward an image side. At this time, a focal length of the front group, a focal length of the converter lens, and a lateral magnification of the converter lens when the converter lens is disposed on an image side of a master lens are determined as appropriate.

A converter lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a converter lens that has a negative refractive power and increases a focal length of an entire system. The converter lens includes a front group having a positive refractive power and a rear group having a negative refractive power, and the front group is a lens unit having a combined refractive power having a maximum positive refractive power in a case where the combined refractive power is obtained by combining a refractive power of each lens in order from the lens closest to an object toward an image side. At this time, a focal length of the front group, a focal length of the converter lens, and a lateral magnification of the converter lens when the converter lens is disposed on an image side of a master lens are determined as appropriate.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for producing non-rotationally symmetric optical aberrations. Such aberrations may be created by a removable attachment that may be attached to another lens, such as a spherical lens. Aberrations that appear to reproduce an anamorphic effect may be produced, yet the underlying camera system may remain a spherical camera system, and the capture mode may remain non-anamorphic.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for producing non-rotationally symmetric optical aberrations. Such aberrations may be created by a removable attachment that may be attached to another lens, such as a spherical lens. Aberrations that appear to reproduce an anamorphic effect may be produced, yet the underlying camera system may remain a spherical camera system, and the capture mode may remain non-anamorphic.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

A converter lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a converter lens that has a negative refractive power and increases a focal length of an entire system. The converter lens includes a front group having a positive refractive power and a rear group having a negative refractive power, and the front group is a lens unit having a combined refractive power having a maximum positive refractive power in a case where the combined refractive power is obtained by combining a refractive power of each lens in order from the lens closest to an object toward an image side. At this time, a focal length of the front group, a focal length of the converter lens, and a lateral magnification of the converter lens when the converter lens is disposed on an image side of a master lens are determined as appropriate.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.