The invention relates to an apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product, in particular for application of an additive manufacturing technique such as selective laser melting. This apparatus has a build chamber in which said product is constructed and an optical system that extends outside of the build chamber. The optical system has at least a beam source to generate an energy beam and contains corresponding scanning means to move this beam. Here, a control unit is provided that controls the scanning means to move the beam so that it strikes a selected position. The wall of the build chamber features a closed window that is transparent for the beam so that it passes through the window and enters the build chamber.

The invention relates to an apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product, in particular for application of an additive manufacturing technique such as selective laser melting. This apparatus has a build chamber in which said product is constructed and an optical system that extends outside of the build chamber. The optical system has at least a beam source to generate an energy beam and contains corresponding scanning means to move this beam. Here, a control unit is provided that controls the scanning means to move the beam so that it strikes a selected position. The wall of the build chamber features a closed window that is transparent for the beam so that it passes through the window and enters the build chamber.

An exposure optics serves as an equipping and/or retrofitting optics for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying building material, layer by layer. The exposure optics includes at least a first object-sided lens system having a first focal length f.sub.1 and a second image-sided lens system having a second focal length f.sub.2, which lens systems can be arranged in the beam path of the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The focal plane of the first lens system and the focal plane of the second lens system coincide in a plane between the two lens systems. The focal length f.sub.1 of the first lens system is equal to or greater than the focal length f.sub.2 of the second lens system. The exposure optics is designed and can be arranged such that the electromagnetic radiation is incident substantially perpendicular on the working surface.

A gas manifold for single-nozzle deposition chambers comprising a base having a top surface and bottom surface defining a thickness; a primary nozzle having an inlet and outlet extending through the thickness of the base; and a secondary nozzle having an inlet extending partially through the top surface of the base and at least one channel extending a distance from a sidewall of the base having an outlet, the channel in fluid communication with the inlet of the secondary nozzle. The inlet of the primary nozzle has a hollow protrusion extending from the top surface of the base into the gas feed. The channel of the secondary nozzle includes a bend between the sidewall of the base and the outlet configured to pass between a first direct energy source and second direct energy source, the first energy source and second energy source disposed on a top wall of a chamber.

A gas manifold for single-nozzle deposition chambers comprising a base having a top surface and bottom surface defining a thickness; a primary nozzle having an inlet and outlet extending through the thickness of the base; and a secondary nozzle having an inlet extending partially through the top surface of the base and at least one channel extending a distance from a sidewall of the base having an outlet, the channel in fluid communication with the inlet of the secondary nozzle. The inlet of the primary nozzle has a hollow protrusion extending from the top surface of the base into the gas feed. The channel of the secondary nozzle includes a bend between the sidewall of the base and the outlet configured to pass between a first direct energy source and second direct energy source, the first energy source and second energy source disposed on a top wall of a chamber.

A manufacturing plant based on optical interaction, in particular a manufacturing plant for selective laser melting. By a special arrangement of the main components of the apparatus, such as the process chamber and the optical module, relative to one another and by means of decoupled bearings and the provision of positioning elements, a particularly high degree of accuracy in component production can be achieved in a simple manner.

A manufacturing plant based on optical interaction, in particular a manufacturing plant for selective laser melting. By a special arrangement of the main components of the apparatus, such as the process chamber and the optical module, relative to one another and by means of decoupled bearings and the provision of positioning elements, a particularly high degree of accuracy in component production can be achieved in a simple manner.

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the gas plume) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the gas plume) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Additive manufacturing systems and methods for fabricating an article are provided. The additive manufacturing system may include a substrate and a layering device configured to fabricate a first layer of the article on the substrate. The layering device may include an optical beam source configured to generate an optical beam and a variable beam characteristics (VBC) fiber operably coupled with the optical beam source and configured to modify one or more beam characteristics, such as a wavelength, of the optical beam.