A modular system for performing additive manufacturing of an object includes at least two additive manufacturing devices, each having a housing with two slots on lateral sides to accommodate a manufacturing tray; a printer head and axis system; and a movement mechanism. A control module is operatively coupled to each of the at least two additive manufacturing devices. The control module is configured to control the at least two additive manufacturing devices to arrange the manufacturing tray in a first of the at least two additive manufacturing devices; print a part of the object on the manufacturing tray arranged in the first additive manufacturing device; move the manufacturing tray having the partially manufactured object to a second of the at least two additive manufacturing devices; and print a remaining part of the object on the manufacturing tray to complete the additive manufacturing of the object.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

A processing machine includes a splash guard that defines and forms a processing area, a tool spindle that is movable in a Z-axis direction and a Y-axis direction inside the processing area, an additive-manufacturing head connected to the tool spindle, and a line body that extends from the additive-manufacturing head, is drawn from an inside of the processing area to an outside, and supplies material powder and a laser beam to the additive-manufacturing head. A maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Y-axis direction is shorter than a maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Z-axis direction. A drawing direction of the line body from the inside to the outside of the processing area is a direction intersecting the Z-axis direction in top view.

A high-speed additive manufacturing apparatus includes a main body, a sintering module, a product carrying member, a raw material carrying member, and a raw material wiper. The main body includes a printing tank and a raw material tank adjacent to the printing tank. The sintering module is arranged on the main body. The sintering module includes a plurality of sintering light source assemblies. Each of the sintered light source assemblies has a light beam emitting end. The light beam emitting end emits a sintering light beam. The light beam emitting ends of the sintering light source assemblies are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each light beam emitting end in one row is unaligned with the light beam emitting end in adjacent rows along a direction in which the light beam emitting end moves.

A high-speed additive manufacturing apparatus includes a main body, a sintering module, a product carrying member, a raw material carrying member, and a raw material wiper. The main body includes a printing tank and a raw material tank adjacent to the printing tank. The sintering module is arranged on the main body. The sintering module includes a plurality of sintering light source assemblies. Each of the sintered light source assemblies has a light beam emitting end. The light beam emitting end emits a sintering light beam. The light beam emitting ends of the sintering light source assemblies are arranged in a plurality of rows. Each light beam emitting end in one row is unaligned with the light beam emitting end in adjacent rows along a direction in which the light beam emitting end moves.

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 build unit for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an energy beam system having one or more irradiation devices respectively configured to direct one or more energy beams onto a region of a powder bed, and an inertization system including an irradiation chamber defining an irradiation plenum, one or more supply manifolds, and a return manifold. The one or more supply manifolds may include a downflow manifold configured to provide a downward flow of a process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber, and/or a crossflow manifold configured to provide a lateral flow of the process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. The return manifold may evacuate or otherwise remove process gas from the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. While irradiating the region of the powder bed, the process gas may flow through the one or more supply manifolds, into the irradiation plenum, and from the irradiation plenum into the return manifold.

A build unit for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an energy beam system having one or more irradiation devices respectively configured to direct one or more energy beams onto a region of a powder bed, and an inertization system including an irradiation chamber defining an irradiation plenum, one or more supply manifolds, and a return manifold. The one or more supply manifolds may include a downflow manifold configured to provide a downward flow of a process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber, and/or a crossflow manifold configured to provide a lateral flow of the process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. The return manifold may evacuate or otherwise remove process gas from the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. While irradiating the region of the powder bed, the process gas may flow through the one or more supply manifolds, into the irradiation plenum, and from the irradiation plenum into the return manifold.

A build unit for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an energy beam system having one or more irradiation devices respectively configured to direct one or more energy beams onto a region of a powder bed, and an inertization system including an irradiation chamber defining an irradiation plenum, one or more supply manifolds, and a return manifold. The one or more supply manifolds may include a downflow manifold configured to provide a downward flow of a process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber, and/or a crossflow manifold configured to provide a lateral flow of the process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. The return manifold may evacuate or otherwise remove process gas from the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. While irradiating the region of the powder bed, the process gas may flow through the one or more supply manifolds, into the irradiation plenum, and from the irradiation plenum into the return manifold.

A build unit for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an energy beam system having one or more irradiation devices respectively configured to direct one or more energy beams onto a region of a powder bed, and an inertization system including an irradiation chamber defining an irradiation plenum, one or more supply manifolds, and a return manifold. The one or more supply manifolds may include a downflow manifold configured to provide a downward flow of a process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber, and/or a crossflow manifold configured to provide a lateral flow of the process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. The return manifold may evacuate or otherwise remove process gas from the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. While irradiating the region of the powder bed, the process gas may flow through the one or more supply manifolds, into the irradiation plenum, and from the irradiation plenum into the return manifold.