The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by means of material application in layers S.sub.n (n=1 to N), which has at least a material dispensing device, a drive device, a print substrate, a control device having a data memory, and a material removal device. In order to be able to recognize and eliminate defects in a layer S.sub.n, which can still occur later, i.e., after completion of this layer S.sub.n, it is proposed, according to the invention, to provide a monitoring device. Furthermore, a downstream evaluation device determines a layer S.sub.x in which the at least one defect was detected. Thereupon an error signal is generated and passed on to the control device. The material removal device completely removes the material of a partial region of the shaped object, from the layer S.sub.N that was last printed, down to the first of the defective layers S.sub.x. Building up the three-dimensional shaped object begins anew at the layer S.sub.x−1.

According to one embodiment, a monitoring system includes a collection device and a processing device. The collection device collects information of a solidified portion that is solidified in additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing forms a plurality of layers by repeatedly melting and solidifying a metal powder. The processing device generates quality data of an existence or absence of a defect of the solidified portion by using the information to determine the existence or absence of the defect.

According to one embodiment, a monitoring system includes a collection device and a processing device. The collection device collects information of a solidified portion that is solidified in additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing forms a plurality of layers by repeatedly melting and solidifying a metal powder. The processing device generates quality data of an existence or absence of a defect of the solidified portion by using the information to determine the existence or absence of the defect.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, and systems using, inter alia, a controller that regulates formation of at least one 3D object (e.g., in real time during the 3D printing); and a non-transitory computer-readable medium facilitating the same. For example, a controller that regulates a deformation of at least a portion of the 3D object. The control may be in situ control. The control may be real-time control during the 3D printing process. For example, the control may be during a physical-attribute pulse. The present disclosure provides various methods, apparatuses, systems and software for estimating the fundamental length scale of a melt pool, and for various tools that increase the accuracy of the 3D printing.

A 3D printer includes a nozzle configured to jet a drop of liquid metal therethrough. The 3D printer also includes a light source configured to illuminate the drop with a pulse of light. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The 3D printer also includes a camera configured to capture an image, video, or both of the drop. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to detect the drop in the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to characterize the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Support substrates are used in certain additive fabrication processes to permit processing of an object. For additive fabrication processes with materials that are sintered into a final part, a multi-layer support substrate of interleaved support and interface layers is fabricated to support an object while reducing an impact of friction on shrinkage of the part during the sintering process.

The invention relates to a system and to a method for coating workpieces using a coating device, which is designed to apply a metal coating to a surface of the workpiece. According to the invention, it is provided that a plurality of coating devices, which are designed as identical coating modules, are provided and are arranged in a module group, that an input measuring station is assigned to the module group, by means of which station a surface of the face of the workpiece to be coated can be detected, that a conveying apparatus is provided, by means of which a workpiece can be supplied to one of the coating modules from the input measuring station, and that an output measuring station is assigned to the module group, by means of which station a surface of the coated face of the workpiece can be detected.