A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated in a matrix, and a compactor configured to compact the continuous reinforcement and the matrix. The system may also include a cure enhancer configured to direct a path of cure energy toward the matrix after discharge, wherein the path of cure energy passes through at least a portion of the compactor.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated in a matrix, and a compactor configured to compact the continuous reinforcement and the matrix. The system may also include a cure enhancer configured to direct a path of cure energy toward the matrix after discharge, wherein the path of cure energy passes through at least a portion of the compactor.

An accessory device used in combination with a solid-state additive manufacturing system is described. In some configurations, the accessory device can be used in combination with an additive manufacturing system, such as a solid-state additive manufacturing system, to enable printing of large-scale and complex objects, where the objects are much larger than those printed with existing solid-state manufacturing systems. The disclosed accessory device used in conjunction with the a solid-state additive manufacturing system is capable of manufacturing non-hollow (solid), partially-hollow or completely-hollow objects via different methods.

Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

A process for layer manufacturing comprising: (a) feeding raw material in a solid state to a first predetermined location; (b) depositing the raw material onto a substrate as a molten pool deposit under a first processing condition; (c) monitoring the molten pool deposit for a preselected condition using a detector substantially contemporaneously with the depositing step; (d) comparing information about the preselected condition of the monitored molten pool deposit with a predetermined desired value for the preselected condition of the monitored molten pool deposit; (e) solidifying the molten pool deposit; (f) automatically altering the first processing condition to a different processing condition based upon information obtained from the comparing step (d); (g) protecting the detector with a vapor protection device; and (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) at one or more second locations.

An apparatus for forming 3D objects from metallic powder, includes a delivery mechanism adapted to emit a flow of metallic powder at sufficiently high velocity to enable it to form a solid mass on a substrate; and a positioning mechanism adapted to set or adjust the distance and/or angle between the delivery mechanism and the substrate as powder builds up on the substrate. A control system is adapted to receive measured geometry data representing the state of the object as it builds and to control adjustment of the positioning means in response to that data for accurate formation of the object.

An apparatus for forming 3D objects from metallic powder, includes a delivery mechanism adapted to emit a flow of metallic powder at sufficiently high velocity to enable it to form a solid mass on a substrate; and a positioning mechanism adapted to set or adjust the distance and/or angle between the delivery mechanism and the substrate as powder builds up on the substrate. A control system is adapted to receive measured geometry data representing the state of the object as it builds and to control adjustment of the positioning means in response to that data for accurate formation of the object.

A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a borate solution application system to either build support structures with a borate solution containing silica particles or to apply such a borate solution to a surface of a metal support structure prior to manufacture of a metal object feature that is supported by the support structure. The silica particles in the borate solution structure form a glassy, brittle structure on which the metal object feature is formed. This glassy, brittle structure is removed relatively easily from the object after the object is manufactured.

A green body for a 3D ceramic and/or metallic body is produced by providing a metal or a mixture of metals and/or a metalloid and/or a non-metal or mixtures thereof in form of at least one aqueous solutions, such as a metal nitrate solution; if more than one aqueous solutions are provided, they differ in composition and/or isotope concentration. One aqueous metal solution is mixed with a gelation fluid at a first temperature to suppress an internal gelation of the feed solution mixture prior to its ejection. The feed solution mixture is ejected by inkjet printing to the green body under construction. The ejected feed solution is heated mixture on the green body to a second temperature to fix it on the green body under construction. Several process steps are repeated according to a 3D production control model until a desired form of the green body is attained.