A method for producing a three-dimensional component by means of a laser melting process, in which the component is produced by consecutively solidifying individual layers made of building material by melting the building material, wherein said building material can be solidified by the action of radiation, wherein the melting area produced by a punctiform and/or linear energy input is detected by a sensor device and sensor values are derived therefrom in order to evaluate the component quality. The sensor values detected in order to evaluate the component quality are stored together with the coordinate values that locate the sensor values in the component and are displayed by means of a visualization unit in two- and/or multi-dimensional representation with respect to the detection location of the sensor values in the component.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.

A method and apparatus are provided for producing a multicomponent feedstock being delivered through a print head of a 3D printer. Multiple component lengths are produced from separate feedstocks and are aligned to form the multicomponent feedstock which is fed into the print head for extrusion. The method includes providing at least two sources of feedstock of different material, feeding a distal end of a first feedstock along a feed path, cutting the first feedstock at a pre-determined length to provide a length of first feedstock having a proximal end. The method includes feeding a distal end of a second feedstock along the feed path and aligning the distal end of the second feedstock with the proximal end of the length of the first feedstock. The second feedstock is cut at a pre-determined length to provide a length of the second feedstock serially aligned with the length of first feedstock, to form a length of multicomponent feedstock. The length of multicomponent feedstock is fed into the print head.

A method for checking a component to be produced in an additive manner, having the steps of mechanically exciting at least one additively constructed layer of the component during the additive production of the component, measuring a mechanical response signal of the component, and displaying a warning and/or interrupting the additive production of the component if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range. A device for the additive production of a component, includes a device for mechanically exciting the at least one additively constructed layer of the component, a measuring unit for measuring the mechanical response signal of the component, and a control unit. The control unit is designed to display the warning and/or interrupt the additive production if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range.

A method for checking a component to be produced in an additive manner, having the steps of mechanically exciting at least one additively constructed layer of the component during the additive production of the component, measuring a mechanical response signal of the component, and displaying a warning and/or interrupting the additive production of the component if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range. A device for the additive production of a component, includes a device for mechanically exciting the at least one additively constructed layer of the component, a measuring unit for measuring the mechanical response signal of the component, and a control unit. The control unit is designed to display the warning and/or interrupt the additive production if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range.

A method for checking a component to be produced in an additive manner, having the steps of mechanically exciting at least one additively constructed layer of the component during the additive production of the component, measuring a mechanical response signal of the component, and displaying a warning and/or interrupting the additive production of the component if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range. A device for the additive production of a component, includes a device for mechanically exciting the at least one additively constructed layer of the component, a measuring unit for measuring the mechanical response signal of the component, and a control unit. The control unit is designed to display the warning and/or interrupt the additive production if the mechanical response signal lies outside of a specified tolerance range.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that includes a drive motor, a heater, and a screw rotated by the drive motor and that plasticizes a material to form a shaping material, an ejection section that ejects the shaping material toward a stage, a moving mechanism section that changes a relative position of the ejection section to the stage, a prediction section that predicts a residual service life of the heater from an observation result of a state observation section that observes a state of the heater, and a control unit that controls the plasticizing section and the moving mechanism section to shape a three-dimensional shaped article. The control unit has a first mode in which a temperature of the heater is set to a first temperature and a second mode in which the temperature of the heater is set to a temperature lower than the first temperature, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the first mode when a first residual service life when the temperature of the heater is set to the first temperature exceeds a first value, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the second mode when the first residual service life is equal to or less than the first value.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that includes a drive motor, a heater, and a screw rotated by the drive motor and that plasticizes a material to form a shaping material, an ejection section that ejects the shaping material toward a stage, a moving mechanism section that changes a relative position of the ejection section to the stage, a prediction section that predicts a residual service life of the heater from an observation result of a state observation section that observes a state of the heater, and a control unit that controls the plasticizing section and the moving mechanism section to shape a three-dimensional shaped article. The control unit has a first mode in which a temperature of the heater is set to a first temperature and a second mode in which the temperature of the heater is set to a temperature lower than the first temperature, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the first mode when a first residual service life when the temperature of the heater is set to the first temperature exceeds a first value, and shapes the three-dimensional shaped article in the second mode when the first residual service life is equal to or less than the first value.

Device for manufacturing a part using a method of selective fusion or selective sintering on a powder bed comprising a build plate having a working surface, parallel to a first direction and to a second direction, on which surface the part is intended to be manufactured, a wiper which is placed on the working surface and capable of moving and spreading the powder in the first direction on the working surface, characterized in that it further includes at least two acoustic sensors which are fixed and spaced in the second direction on the wiper and capable of detecting an acoustic signal; a laser range finder pointing in the first direction and capable of determining a position of the wiper in the first direction; and a control system capable of detecting an anomaly on the basis of said acoustic signal and of determining a position of the anomaly.

Device for manufacturing a part using a method of selective fusion or selective sintering on a powder bed comprising a build plate having a working surface, parallel to a first direction and to a second direction, on which surface the part is intended to be manufactured, a wiper which is placed on the working surface and capable of moving and spreading the powder in the first direction on the working surface, characterized in that it further includes at least two acoustic sensors which are fixed and spaced in the second direction on the wiper and capable of detecting an acoustic signal; a laser range finder pointing in the first direction and capable of determining a position of the wiper in the first direction; and a control system capable of detecting an anomaly on the basis of said acoustic signal and of determining a position of the anomaly.