A friction head and a friction additive manufacturing method of adjusting components and synchronously feeding material are provided. The friction head includes a friction body, a charging part and a feeding part. An axis of the friction body, an axis of the charging part and an axis of the feeding part are coincided with one another. The charging part and the feeding part are sleeved on the friction body. Spiral groove(s) extending in a same direction is formed in an inner ring wall of the feeding part. The spiral groove(s) extends through the inner ring wall of the feeding part and is symmetrical about the axis of the feeding part. The spiral groove(s) and a lower outer surface of the feeding part form spiral feeding channel(s). An upper end of each feeding channel is communicated with a corresponding one of feeding hole(s).

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a build material volume transportation device is described. The build material volume transportation device includes a shuttle to transport a build material volume. The shuttle includes an opening therethrough to receive the build material volume. The build material volume transportation device also includes a build tray to raise the build volume into the opening in the shuttle. The build material volume transportation device further includes a latch assembly to releasably secure the build tray to the shuttle. A tip of the latch assembly extends to interface with the aperture to secure the build tray to the shuttle. The tip rotates independently of the piston.

A welding or additive manufacturing system includes a contact tip assembly having first and second exit orifices. A wire feeder is configured to deliver a first and second wire electrodes through the exit orifices. An arc generation power supply is configured to output a current waveform to the wire electrodes simultaneously, through the contact tip assembly. The current waveform includes a bridging current portion, and a background current portion having a lower current level than the bridging current portion. The bridging current portion has a current level sufficient to form a bridge droplet between the wire electrodes before the bridge droplet is transferred to a molten puddle during a deposition operation. Solid portions of the wire electrodes do not contact each other during the deposition operation. The bridge droplet is transferred to the molten puddle during a short circuit event between the molten puddle and the wire electrodes.

The invention is directed to a powder supply system (1) for use in an apparatus (100) for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder (4) with electromagnetic or particle radiation. The powder supply system (1) comprises a circuit line (7) configured to conduct a gas stream (9), a conveying device (19) configured to convey the gas stream (9) through the circuit line (7), a powder doser (8) configured to introduce a desired dose of raw material powder (4) into the gas stream (9) flowing through the circuit line (7), a measuring unit (15) configured to measure at least one of a pressure and a volume flow in the circuit line (7) at a position downstream of the powder doser (8), and a control unit (40) configured to control the powder doser (8) based on at least one of a pressure value and a volume flow value measured by the measuring unit (15) in such a manner that the at least one of the pressure value and the volume flow value measured by the measuring unit (15) is within a predetermined range.

The invention is directed to a powder supply system (1) for use in an apparatus (100) for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder (4) with electromagnetic or particle radiation. The powder supply system (1) comprises a circuit line (7) configured to conduct a gas stream (9), a conveying device (19) configured to convey the gas stream (9) through the circuit line (7), a powder doser (8) configured to introduce a desired dose of raw material powder (4) into the gas stream (9) flowing through the circuit line (7), a measuring unit (15) configured to measure at least one of a pressure and a volume flow in the circuit line (7) at a position downstream of the powder doser (8), and a control unit (40) configured to control the powder doser (8) based on at least one of a pressure value and a volume flow value measured by the measuring unit (15) in such a manner that the at least one of the pressure value and the volume flow value measured by the measuring unit (15) is within a predetermined range.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising: a working area onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; a powder distribution member, a pivoted powder pushing device for bringing a portion of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area, said distribution member further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area, wherein a first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device is movable under said distribution member. An associated method and computer program product are also provided.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising: a working area onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; a powder distribution member, a pivoted powder pushing device for bringing a portion of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area, said distribution member further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area, wherein a first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device is movable under said distribution member. An associated method and computer program product are also provided.

Certain examples relate to a build material management system to transport build material from a collection to source to one of a plurality of storage tanks. The storage tank is determined by a controller that compares color of the build material measured by a color sensor with predetermined values. The controller routes the build material to the storage tank.

A printer is described that comprises a print chamber and an electromagnet moveable within the print chamber. The electromagnet has an on state and an off state. The electromagnet is to collect magnetic powder within the print chamber when in the on state, and to deposit magnetic powder when in the off state.