An apparatus for carrying out a method for producing an object using selective powder melting and by building up layers of powder material. The apparatus includes a build chamber configured to accommodate the object being produced and a powder delivery device equipped with a powder storage container and configured to supply material powder into the build chamber, a powder layer preparation unit to prepare successive layers of the supplied material powder on a substrate arranged in the build chamber, an irradiation device configured to irradiate a prepared powder layer to thereby melt the prepared powder layer locally, and a protective gas circulation device configured to circulate a protective gas present in the build chamber. At least one air conditioning device is also included and is configured to condition one or more of a temperature or a humidity of the protective gas circulated by the protective gas circulation device.

An apparatus for carrying out a method for producing an object using selective powder melting and by building up layers of powder material. The apparatus includes a build chamber configured to accommodate the object being produced and a powder delivery device equipped with a powder storage container and configured to supply material powder into the build chamber, a powder layer preparation unit to prepare successive layers of the supplied material powder on a substrate arranged in the build chamber, an irradiation device configured to irradiate a prepared powder layer to thereby melt the prepared powder layer locally, and a protective gas circulation device configured to circulate a protective gas present in the build chamber. At least one air conditioning device is also included and is configured to condition one or more of a temperature or a humidity of the protective gas circulated by the protective gas circulation device.

A system for additive manufacture uses a powder bed with powder distributed on a build surface. A nozzle directs and controls a flow stream of gas over the powder bed. The nozzle includes a peripheral duct wall defining a channel with an inlet and an outlet. The channel directs the flow stream and diverges from the inlet to the outlet of the nozzle. Vanes are distributed across the channel as symmetric airfoils to reduce turbulence of the flow stream. Guides extend between the vanes and are disposed at an angle selected to direct the gas over the powder bed without blowing the deposited powder off the build surface.

A system for additive manufacture uses a powder bed with powder distributed on a build surface. A nozzle directs and controls a flow stream of gas over the powder bed. The nozzle includes a peripheral duct wall defining a channel with an inlet and an outlet. The channel directs the flow stream and diverges from the inlet to the outlet of the nozzle. Vanes are distributed across the channel as symmetric airfoils to reduce turbulence of the flow stream. Guides extend between the vanes and are disposed at an angle selected to direct the gas over the powder bed without blowing the deposited powder off the build surface.

A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by, repeatedly, depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning a plurality of laser beams over the deposited powder to selectively solidify the powder layers, wherein a gas flow is passed over the powder bed in a gas flow direction. The method including selecting a scanning sequence for the plurality of laser beams to include the simultaneous exposure of an upstream point together with a downstream point located downstream of a flow of debris carried from the upstream point by the gas flow, the downstream and upstream points selected for simultaneous exposure based upon the downstream point being within a maximum separation distance from the upstream point.

An additive manufacturing device includes a recoater configured to push powder onto a build platform. The recoater defines an advancing direction for pushing powder. A first baffle is mounted to a first end of a leading edge of the recoater and a second baffle mounted to a second end of the leading edge of the recoater opposite the first end. Each of the first and second baffles includes a base mounted to the recoater, a first wall that extends obliquely ahead of and laterally outward from the base relative to the advancing direction, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The second wall extends obliquely ahead of and laterally inward from the base relative to the advancing direction. A volume is defined between the first and second wall with capacity to collect powder as the recoater advances.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: a chamber, including a front plate; a door, provided at an opening of the front plate; an irradiator; a gas supplier, supplying an inert gas to the chamber; and a gas discharger, discharging the inert gas from the chamber. The gas supplier includes a middle nozzle and a lower nozzle. The middle nozzle is provided so as to cross the opening when the door is closed, has one end swingably supported on the front plate, and swings independently of opening and closing of the door.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: a chamber, including a front plate; a door, provided at an opening of the front plate; an irradiator; a gas supplier, supplying an inert gas to the chamber; and a gas discharger, discharging the inert gas from the chamber. The gas supplier includes a middle nozzle and a lower nozzle. The middle nozzle is provided so as to cross the opening when the door is closed, has one end swingably supported on the front plate, and swings independently of opening and closing of the door.

A print engine of an additive manufacturing system includes a print station configured to hold a removable cartridge containing powder. A laser engine is positioned to direct a one or two dimensional patterned laser beam into the removable cartridge. In some embodiments powder is produced at least in part with a magnetohydrodynamic system.

A print engine of an additive manufacturing system includes a print station configured to hold a removable cartridge containing powder. A laser engine is positioned to direct a one or two dimensional patterned laser beam into the removable cartridge. In some embodiments powder is produced at least in part with a magnetohydrodynamic system.