A sensor is provided near an additive manufacturing (AM) part during fabrication to provide information about the condition of the additive material during fabrication. Sensor measurements are used for in situ monitoring and control of the AM system. By placing a sensor at this location, information at or near this location may be collected and then analyzed to determine if the AM process is proceeding acceptably, or if real-time modifications to the process should be made to improve the performance of the process. Conditions monitored by the sensor may include the melt pool dimensions, the temperature ahead of and at the melt pool, properties of the powder bed such as temperature and particle size distribution, local powder conditions, prior layer condition, and applied layer condition behind the laser. A control system uses these monitored conditions to adjust and control the ongoing AM fabrication process.

A sensor is provided near an additive manufacturing (AM) part during fabrication to provide information about the condition of the additive material during fabrication. Sensor measurements are used for in situ monitoring and control of the AM system. By placing a sensor at this location, information at or near this location may be collected and then analyzed to determine if the AM process is proceeding acceptably, or if real-time modifications to the process should be made to improve the performance of the process. Conditions monitored by the sensor may include the melt pool dimensions, the temperature ahead of and at the melt pool, properties of the powder bed such as temperature and particle size distribution, local powder conditions, prior layer condition, and applied layer condition behind the laser. A control system uses these monitored conditions to adjust and control the ongoing AM fabrication process.

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.

A method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising: controlling an additive manufacturing printer to build an article in a cavity of a build chamber from a powdered material, the build chamber being removable from the additive manufacturing printer and including one or more heaters configured to provide thermal energy to the cavity of the building chamber; and controlling the one or more heaters of the build chamber to heat the article to a predetermined temperature while building the article to prevent the article from cracking while the build chamber and the article are transferred from the additive manufacturing printer to a heater, the predetermined temperature being between the upper temperature of the ductility drop temperature range of the powdered material and the sintering temperature of the powdered material.

A method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising: controlling an additive manufacturing printer to build an article in a cavity of a build chamber from a powdered material, the build chamber being removable from the additive manufacturing printer and including one or more heaters configured to provide thermal energy to the cavity of the building chamber; and controlling the one or more heaters of the build chamber to heat the article to a predetermined temperature while building the article to prevent the article from cracking while the build chamber and the article are transferred from the additive manufacturing printer to a heater, the predetermined temperature being between the upper temperature of the ductility drop temperature range of the powdered material and the sintering temperature of the powdered material.

A pulsed control vibratory particle hopper includes a particle hopper, a vibrating tray, a mechanical vibrator, and a controller. The particle hopper includes a hopper outlet, and the vibrating tray receives particles from the hopper outlet. The mechanical vibrator is mechanically connected to the vibrating tray to generate a baseline vibration, as well as a periodic vibration amplitude spike or pulse. The controller is in communication with the mechanical vibrator to control the mechanical vibrator and generate the periodic vibration amplitude spike with a duration Tp, a maximum amplitude Ap, and a frequency Fp. The pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and pulse frequency are determined based on the size or a type of the material being dispensed from the particle hopper.

A pulsed control vibratory particle hopper includes a particle hopper, a vibrating tray, a mechanical vibrator, and a controller. The particle hopper includes a hopper outlet, and the vibrating tray receives particles from the hopper outlet. The mechanical vibrator is mechanically connected to the vibrating tray to generate a baseline vibration, as well as a periodic vibration amplitude spike or pulse. The controller is in communication with the mechanical vibrator to control the mechanical vibrator and generate the periodic vibration amplitude spike with a duration Tp, a maximum amplitude Ap, and a frequency Fp. The pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and pulse frequency are determined based on the size or a type of the material being dispensed from the particle hopper.

A plant (100) for the layered construction of a molded body comprises a coating device (400) and a coating device cleaner (600). The coating device is movable horizontally across a construction field for applying a uniform layer of construction material to be solidified to the construction field and has an elongate metering shaft (410), at the lower side of which a longitudinal slot (412) is provided for outputting the construction material as the metering shaft (410) moves across the construction field. The coating device cleaner (600) is mounted on a construction frame (150) of the plant and serves for cleaning the metering shaft (410). The coating device cleaner (600) comprises an elongate wiper element (610) that is received under the metering shaft (410) of the coating device (400) at least in part in a construction material collection container (620).

A plant (100) for the layered construction of a molded body comprises a coating device (400) and a coating device cleaner (600). The coating device is movable horizontally across a construction field for applying a uniform layer of construction material to be solidified to the construction field and has an elongate metering shaft (410), at the lower side of which a longitudinal slot (412) is provided for outputting the construction material as the metering shaft (410) moves across the construction field. The coating device cleaner (600) is mounted on a construction frame (150) of the plant and serves for cleaning the metering shaft (410). The coating device cleaner (600) comprises an elongate wiper element (610) that is received under the metering shaft (410) of the coating device (400) at least in part in a construction material collection container (620).

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.