A system for additive metal manufacturing, including a deposition mechanism, a translation mechanism mounting the deposition mechanism to the working volume, and a stage. A method for additive metal manufacturing including: selectively depositing a material carrier within the working volume; removing an additive from the material carrier; and treating the resultant material.

This shaping apparatus is equipped with: a movement system which moves a target surface; a measurement system for acquiring position information of the target surface in a state movable by the movement system, a beam shaping system that has a beam irradiation section and a material processing section which supplies a shaping material irradiated by a beam from beam irradiation section; and a controller. On the basis of 3D data of a three-dimensional shaped object to be formed on a target surface and position information of the target surface acquired using the measurement system, the controller controls the movement system and the beam shaping system such that a target portion on the target surface is shaped by supplying the shaping material while moving the target surface and the beam from beam irradiation section relative to each other.

A CNC machining centre is disclosed, with an additive unit that forms an unmachined workpiece by additive production and that comprises an operating member with a rotation axis, and with a subtractive unit that removes material from the unmachined workpiece formed by the additive unit and that comprises a tool-holding spindle with a motorized spindle axis, with a subtractive configuration, in which the spindle axis of the subtractive unit carries a tool for removing material, and with an additive configuration, in which the spindle axis of the subtractive unit is connected to the rotation axis to drive the operating member of the additive unit and in which a prevalent part of the tool-holding spindle is situated next to at least one part of the operating member, where “next to” means in a horizontal direction.

A multi-material three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided. The provided apparatus includes two or more print stations. Each of the print stations includes a substrate, a transportation device, a dispersion device, a compaction device, a printing device, a fixing device, and a fluidized materials removal device. The apparatus also includes an assembly apparatus in communication with the two or more print stations via the transportation device. The apparatus also includes one or more transfer devices in communication with the assembly apparatus. The apparatus also includes a computing and controlling device configured to control the operations of the two or more print stations, the assembly apparatus and the one or more transfer devices.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may have an outlet configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix, and a device located inside the print head and configured to at least partially coat the continuous reinforcement with the matrix. The system may also include a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of the matrix, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the device. The controller may be configured to direct a command to the device to cause the device to advance matrix toward the continuous reinforcement during passage of the continuous reinforcement through the print head, and to selectively adjust the command based on the signal.

A convergent three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing system is disclosed which includes a header, a base, a first dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent to the first dispensing system defining a first zone, a second dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent the second dispensing system defining a second zone, the first zone, and the second zone are separated by a screen adapted to prevent contamination across the first and second zones, the first dispensing system carrying raw material for a first product, and the second dispensing system carrying raw material for a second product.

A convergent three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing system is disclosed which includes a header, a base, a first dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent to the first dispensing system defining a first zone, a second dispensing system mounted onto the header, the space between the header and the base adjacent the second dispensing system defining a second zone, the first zone, and the second zone are separated by a screen adapted to prevent contamination across the first and second zones, the first dispensing system carrying raw material for a first product, and the second dispensing system carrying raw material for a second product.

A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.

A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.

A print head is disclosed for use in an additive manufacturing system. The print head may include an outlet configured to discharge a material, and a compacting device mounted to trail behind the outlet during movement of the print head in a normal direction. The print head may also include a spring configured to bias the compacting device against the material and to allow movement of the compacting device in a direction parallel with a discharge direction of the material through the outlet, and a locker configured to selectively lock a position of the compacting device relative to the outlet.