Additive manufacturing systems, and methods of encoding and decoding data within a build chamber of an additive manufacturing system are disclosed. An additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber having a patterned surface, the patterned surface having indicia therein or thereon. The additive manufacturing system further includes an energy beam (EB) gun configured to emit an energy beam and a sensor configured to detect one or more x-ray emissions that are generated as a result of impingement of the energy beam on the patterned surface. The one or more x-ray emissions include characteristics that correspond to the indicia such that data encoded in the indicia can be obtained from the characteristics of the one or more x-ray emissions.

Additive manufacturing systems, and methods of encoding and decoding data within a build chamber of an additive manufacturing system are disclosed. An additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber having a patterned surface, the patterned surface having indicia therein or thereon. The additive manufacturing system further includes an energy beam (EB) gun configured to emit an energy beam and a sensor configured to detect one or more x-ray emissions that are generated as a result of impingement of the energy beam on the patterned surface. The one or more x-ray emissions include characteristics that correspond to the indicia such that data encoded in the indicia can be obtained from the characteristics of the one or more x-ray emissions.

A direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system includes a rotatable base, and a build plate mounted on and supported by the rotatable base, where the build plate includes a build surface. The DMLM system also includes a first actuator assembly, a first powder dispenser disposed proximate the build plate and configured to deposit a weldable powder on the build surface of the build plate. In addition, the DMLM system includes a first powder spreader disposed proximate the build plate and configured to spread the weldable powder deposited on the build surface of the build plate, and a first laser scanner supported by the first actuator assembly in a position relative to the build plate, such that at least a portion of the build surface is within a field of view of the first laser scanner. The first laser scanner is configured to selectively weld the weldable powder. The first laser scanner is further configured to translate axially relative to the build surface on the first actuator assembly.

A direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system includes a rotatable base, and a build plate mounted on and supported by the rotatable base, where the build plate includes a build surface. The DMLM system also includes a first actuator assembly, a first powder dispenser disposed proximate the build plate and configured to deposit a weldable powder on the build surface of the build plate. In addition, the DMLM system includes a first powder spreader disposed proximate the build plate and configured to spread the weldable powder deposited on the build surface of the build plate, and a first laser scanner supported by the first actuator assembly in a position relative to the build plate, such that at least a portion of the build surface is within a field of view of the first laser scanner. The first laser scanner is configured to selectively weld the weldable powder. The first laser scanner is further configured to translate axially relative to the build surface on the first actuator assembly.

The illumination optical system includes a beam shaper which converts an intensity distribution of a laser beam in each of a short axis direction and a long axis direction, which is a Gaussian distribution, into an intensity distribution of a parallel beam on a modulation surface of the optical modulator in each of the short axis direction and the long axis direction, which is a top hat distribution. The modulation surface and an irradiated surface are optically conjugated with respect to the long axis direction by a third lens and a fourth lens. Further, the modulation surface and a front focus position of the fourth lens are optically conjugated with respect to the short axis direction by a first lens, a second lens, and the third lens. The fourth lens condenses a beam having a top hat distribution at the front focus position onto the irradiated surface.

A numerical control device includes: a program analyzing unit analyzing a transition of a moving velocity of a machining head and a transition of a supply amount of a material supplied to a beam-irradiation position based on a machining program; a movement distance calculating unit calculating a first distance based on a result of analysis performed by the program analyzing unit, the first distance being a length of a first movement section to a first position at which addition of the material to the workpiece is started, the first movement section being a section through which the machining head is moved while the head is accelerated; and a condition command generating unit generating a supply command to increase the supply amount of the material per hour from zero to a command value according to a machining condition while the machining head is moved through the first movement section.

A numerical control device includes: a program analyzing unit analyzing a transition of a moving velocity of a machining head and a transition of a supply amount of a material supplied to a beam-irradiation position based on a machining program; a movement distance calculating unit calculating a first distance based on a result of analysis performed by the program analyzing unit, the first distance being a length of a first movement section to a first position at which addition of the material to the workpiece is started, the first movement section being a section through which the machining head is moved while the head is accelerated; and a condition command generating unit generating a supply command to increase the supply amount of the material per hour from zero to a command value according to a machining condition while the machining head is moved through the first movement section.

An apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product includes a build chamber having a window, a build platform within the build chamber, a calibration device that is physically separated from the build chamber, an optical system including a beam source and a scanning apparatus, and a mobile base. The mobile base is configured to position the scanning apparatus at two spaced part positions including a (1) production position and a (2) calibration position. At the production position the scanning apparatus is configured to receive an energy beam from the beam source and to reflect and scan the energy beam through the window and to a build surface over the build platform to create a layer of the three-dimensional product. At the calibration position the scanning apparatus is configured to reflect the energy beam to the calibration device but not through the window.

An apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product includes a build chamber having a window, a build platform within the build chamber, a calibration device that is physically separated from the build chamber, an optical system including a beam source and a scanning apparatus, and a mobile base. The mobile base is configured to position the scanning apparatus at two spaced part positions including a (1) production position and a (2) calibration position. At the production position the scanning apparatus is configured to receive an energy beam from the beam source and to reflect and scan the energy beam through the window and to a build surface over the build platform to create a layer of the three-dimensional product. At the calibration position the scanning apparatus is configured to reflect the energy beam to the calibration device but not through the window.

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.