We describe a process chamber, an apparatus, a modular system, a method, a safety device, a positioning system and a system for producing a three-dimensional workpiece and/or for use thereof when producing a three-dimensional workpiece. The process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece via an additive layer construction method comprises: a material supply unit comprising a substantially ring-like shaped end portion at a first side of the process chamber, wherein the material supply unit is adapted to supply, via the end portion, material to a carrier on which the material is to be processed by the process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece, and an opening at the first side of the process chamber for processing, by the process chamber, the material supplied on the carrier in order to produce the three-dimensional workpiece, wherein the substantially ring-like shaped end portion surrounds the opening.

We describe a process chamber, an apparatus, a modular system, a method, a safety device, a positioning system and a system for producing a three-dimensional workpiece and/or for use thereof when producing a three-dimensional workpiece. The process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece via an additive layer construction method comprises: a material supply unit comprising a substantially ring-like shaped end portion at a first side of the process chamber, wherein the material supply unit is adapted to supply, via the end portion, material to a carrier on which the material is to be processed by the process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece, and an opening at the first side of the process chamber for processing, by the process chamber, the material supplied on the carrier in order to produce the three-dimensional workpiece, wherein the substantially ring-like shaped end portion surrounds the opening.

A method for manufacturing at least a metallic portion of a component: a) depositing metallic material layer by layer onto at least one building platform; b) locally fusing and/or sintering the material layer by layer by supplying energy by at least one high-energy beam in the region of a buildup and joining zone to form at least a portion of at least one component layer of the component portion and/or of the component; c) lowering the building platform layer by layer by a predefined layer thickness; and d) repeating the steps a) through c) until completion of the component portion and/or of the component. Before, during and/or after process step b), at least one further portion of the component layer is formed by locally fusing and/or sintering the material by inductive heating at a temperature or in a temperature range above the solidus temperature of the metallic material used. A system for manufacturing at least a portion of a component is also provided.

A method for manufacturing at least a metallic portion of a component: a) depositing metallic material layer by layer onto at least one building platform; b) locally fusing and/or sintering the material layer by layer by supplying energy by at least one high-energy beam in the region of a buildup and joining zone to form at least a portion of at least one component layer of the component portion and/or of the component; c) lowering the building platform layer by layer by a predefined layer thickness; and d) repeating the steps a) through c) until completion of the component portion and/or of the component. Before, during and/or after process step b), at least one further portion of the component layer is formed by locally fusing and/or sintering the material by inductive heating at a temperature or in a temperature range above the solidus temperature of the metallic material used. A system for manufacturing at least a portion of a component is also provided.

an extruded metal flow 3D printer comprising a rack including a workbench capable of moving along n X-axis and Y-axis direction, and a head capable of moving along an Z-axis direction; a printing device including a printing head, a highfrequency coil and a high frequency electric induction heating device; the printing heal including a tungsten steel nozzle, a ceramic tube bank, a high temperature resistant ceramic protective sleeve, and a stainless steel end cover; the tungsten steel nozzle having an extrusion hole; a feeding device; the head comprising at least one laser mounted on a lower end face thereof and configured to locally preheat and melt a metal layer printed from the metal wire or enhance a binding force between metal layers, so that the print effect and model molding effect of the present invention can be improved, enhancing the marketability.

an extruded metal flow 3D printer comprising a rack including a workbench capable of moving along n X-axis and Y-axis direction, and a head capable of moving along an Z-axis direction; a printing device including a printing head, a highfrequency coil and a high frequency electric induction heating device; the printing heal including a tungsten steel nozzle, a ceramic tube bank, a high temperature resistant ceramic protective sleeve, and a stainless steel end cover; the tungsten steel nozzle having an extrusion hole; a feeding device; the head comprising at least one laser mounted on a lower end face thereof and configured to locally preheat and melt a metal layer printed from the metal wire or enhance a binding force between metal layers, so that the print effect and model molding effect of the present invention can be improved, enhancing the marketability.

According to one embodiment, a material feeding device includes a feeding unit. The feeding unit includes an electrode unit electrically chargeable by application of voltage thereto and an insulating unit covering the electrode unit, the electrode unit being configured to attract and separate a material to and from a surface of the insulating unit by control of a charged state of the electrode unit.

For conditioning build material for fused filament fabrication, thermal power is both added to and removed from a nozzle in a manner that can reduce sensitivity of the nozzle temperature to fluctuations in build material feed rate. The amount of thermal power added is at least as large as the sum of the amount removed, the amount to condition the material, and losses to the environment. The amount removed may be at least as large as half the thermal power required to condition the material to extrusion temperature, and may be comparable to, or much larger than the conditioning amount. The larger the ratio of the amount removed to the conditioning amount, the less sensitive the nozzle temperature will be to fluctuations in build material feed rate. Fine temperature control arises, enabling building with metal-containing multi-phase materials or other materials that have a narrow working temperature range.

A powder bed fusion apparatus includes a build platform movable in a build sleeve, the build platform for supporting a bed of metal powder, a powder layer formation device for forming layers of metal powder to form the bed, a scanner for directing an energy beam to selected regions of each layer to consolidate the metal powder and a radio-wave generator arranged to surround the metal powder and generate radio waves to heat the metal powder that forms the bed.

A powder bed fusion apparatus includes a build platform movable in a build sleeve, the build platform for supporting a bed of metal powder, a powder layer formation device for forming layers of metal powder to form the bed, a scanner for directing an energy beam to selected regions of each layer to consolidate the metal powder and a radio-wave generator arranged to surround the metal powder and generate radio waves to heat the metal powder that forms the bed.