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.

An additive manufacturing method and machine for an object using at least one powder, capable of limiting risks of dissemination of the powder. The method including the following steps in succession: manufacture a solid block starting from the powder and a sublimatable material, load the solid block in a loading space of the machine; sublimate the material present in the solid block and recover the powder; and additive manufacturing of the object by stacking successive layers made using the powder recovered in the previous step.

A container arrangement of an unpacking device for a manufacturing device for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional component is provided. The container arrangement includes a construction container with a construction chamber, and a collecting container that is releasably connected to the construction container and has a collecting chamber. The construction container has a container cover that, in the closed state, seals off the construction chamber and an inert atmosphere located therein from the surroundings. A collecting-container-side part of an interior of the container arrangement is provided inside the container arrangement. The container arrangement further includes an opening device that can be used, with the collecting-container-side part of the interior of the container arrangement being filled with an inert atmosphere, to open the closed container cover of the construction container and thereby to connect the construction chamber of the construction container to the collecting chamber of the collecting container.