An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.

An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.

Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.

Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.

A system includes a plurality of building trays, a printing station, a powder delivery station, a powder spreading station, a process compaction station and a stage. The printing station prints a mask pattern on each of the plurality of building trays. The powder delivery station applies a dose of powder material on each of the plurality of building trays. The powder spreading station configured to spread the dose of powder material on each of the plurality of building trays. The process compaction station compacts the powder material. The stage concurrently advances the plurality of building trays to each of the stations to concurrently build a single layer on each the plurality of building trays and repeats the advancing to build a plurality of layers on each of the plurality of building trays. A three dimensional object is formed in each of the building trays.

This invention quickly supplies a predetermined amount of powder from a hopper to a recoater. A powder supply apparatus includes, as its feature, a hopper, a powder spreader, a powder replenisher, and a pivoting unit. The hopper of the powder supply apparatus stores a powder. The powder spreader spreads the powder on a shaping surface. The powder replenisher of the powder supply apparatus is provided between the hopper and the powder spreader, and replenishes the powder spreader with a predetermined amount of powder. The pivoting unit of the powder supply apparatus causes the powder replenisher to pivot.

This invention quickly supplies a predetermined amount of powder from a hopper to a recoater. A powder supply apparatus includes, as its feature, a hopper, a powder spreader, a powder replenisher, and a pivoting unit. The hopper of the powder supply apparatus stores a powder. The powder spreader spreads the powder on a shaping surface. The powder replenisher of the powder supply apparatus is provided between the hopper and the powder spreader, and replenishes the powder spreader with a predetermined amount of powder. The pivoting unit of the powder supply apparatus causes the powder replenisher to pivot.

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction, and a compacting and/or smoothing element (45) arranged between the two recoating rollers (41, 42) in the first direction (B1) and extending into the second direction. The recoating unit (40) is adapted to draw-out building material to a regular layer (31a, 32a), depending on the movement of the recoating unit into the first direction (B1) or into its reverse direction (B2), using the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead in the respective moving direction (B1, B2), and to compact or smoothen the layer (31a, 32a) drawn-out by the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead using the compacting and/or smoothing element (45).

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction, and a compacting and/or smoothing element (45) arranged between the two recoating rollers (41, 42) in the first direction (B1) and extending into the second direction. The recoating unit (40) is adapted to draw-out building material to a regular layer (31a, 32a), depending on the movement of the recoating unit into the first direction (B1) or into its reverse direction (B2), using the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead in the respective moving direction (B1, B2), and to compact or smoothen the layer (31a, 32a) drawn-out by the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead using the compacting and/or smoothing element (45).

The disclosure features lifting apparatuses for building cylinders in machines for producing 3D components. The apparatuses include a first bracket that receives the building cylinder, a first guide body that controls the first bracket movably and moves the building cylinder into a working plane in a process chamber, and a main drive that controls a piston that can be coupled to a substrate plate of the building cylinder with a stroke movement. At least one further guide body is associated with the first guide body, and both guide bodies are movable on at least one guide. The additional guide body has a bracket on which the main drive is provided, and the first and additional guide bodies have at least one driving apparatus to move them successively along the guide.