A method for producing a biodegradable magnesium metal composite that includes a polycrystalline magnesium matrix and TiB.sub.2 grains which are homogenously distributed in the polycrystalline magnesium matrix involving spark plasma sintering a milled mixture of magnesium powder and TiB.sub.2 powder. The temperature, pressure, and time of the spark plasma sintering used in the method are used to give high microharness, macrohardness, and density with low porosity by limiting the grain growth in the composite. The method yields a biodegradable magnesium metal composite having an improved microhardness, macrohardness, density, and porosity compared to other composites and methods of making composites.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.

A rotary plasma reactor system is provided. In another aspect, a plasma reactor is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis within a vacuum chamber. A further aspect employs a plasma reactor, a vacuum chamber, and an elongated electrode internally extending within a central area of the reactor. Yet another aspect employs a plasma reactor for use in activating, etching and/or coating tumbling workpiece material.

A supply module (2) for supplying additive manufacturing powder comprises: a main hopper (29) for storing additive manufacturing powder, the main hopper (29) being designed to be connected to a manufacturing module (4) configured to additively manufacture an object from the powder; an inlet (211) of the supply module (2) designed to be connected to the manufacturing module (4) and to receive powder located in the manufacturing module (4); a glovebox (25) being able to be closed in a sealed manner; a provisioning circuit configured to transfer powder located in the glovebox (25) to the main hopper (29); and a circulation system designed to set powder in motion according to a circulation loop closed on itself, the circulation system comprising a suction system (21) designed to evacuate gas present in the circulation loop, the circulation loop passing through the main hopper (29) and the suction system (21).

A supply module (2) for supplying additive manufacturing powder comprises: a main hopper (29) for storing additive manufacturing powder, the main hopper (29) being designed to be connected to a manufacturing module (4) configured to additively manufacture an object from the powder; an inlet (211) of the supply module (2) designed to be connected to the manufacturing module (4) and to receive powder located in the manufacturing module (4); a glovebox (25) being able to be closed in a sealed manner; a provisioning circuit configured to transfer powder located in the glovebox (25) to the main hopper (29); and a circulation system designed to set powder in motion according to a circulation loop closed on itself, the circulation system comprising a suction system (21) designed to evacuate gas present in the circulation loop, the circulation loop passing through the main hopper (29) and the suction system (21).

Provided is a chamber system for solid free form fabrication, the chamber system having a deposition chamber, a service chamber and one or more loading/unloading chambers. The chamber system allows for a more efficient and cost effective process to service the deposition apparatus, load holding substrates, and unload workpieces without requiring having to adjust the atmosphere in the deposition chamber.

A component obtainable by a process which includes providing a composition and sintering the composition at a sintering temperature of from 1250° C. to 1400° C. for a period of from 3 to 15 minutes. The composition includes hard material particles with an inner core of fused tungsten carbide and an outer shell of tungsten carbide, and a binder metal selected from Co, Ni, Fe and alloys with at least one metal selected from Co, Ni and Fe.

The invention relates to a device (100) for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, in particular a 3D metal printer, comprising a print head (1) and a device (40) for generating an inert atmosphere (22) within the print head (1) by means of a gas (55), in particular inert gas, wherein the print head (1) comprises a housing (3), a device (28) for feeding a metal (14), a piston (5), a reservoir (7) with an outlet opening (10) and an actuator device (12) for displacing the piston (5), wherein the reservoir (7) has a melt region (20) and a displacement body chamber (21) for a liquid phase (8) of the metal (14), wherein the melt region (20) adjoins the inert atmosphere (22) and is connected to the displacement body chamber (21) such that, as a result of the displacement of the piston (5), the liquid phase (8) of the metal (14) can be caused to pass through the outlet opening (10). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the device (40) for generating the inert atmosphere (22) is arranged outside the print head (1), wherein said device comprises an accumulator (41), at least one means (42, 43) for pressure control, and a gas line (50, 51, 52). The invention furthermore relates to methods for operating the device (100).

The invention relates to a device (100) for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, in particular a 3D metal printer, comprising a print head (1) and a device (40) for generating an inert atmosphere (22) within the print head (1) by means of a gas (55), in particular inert gas, wherein the print head (1) comprises a housing (3), a device (28) for feeding a metal (14), a piston (5), a reservoir (7) with an outlet opening (10) and an actuator device (12) for displacing the piston (5), wherein the reservoir (7) has a melt region (20) and a displacement body chamber (21) for a liquid phase (8) of the metal (14), wherein the melt region (20) adjoins the inert atmosphere (22) and is connected to the displacement body chamber (21) such that, as a result of the displacement of the piston (5), the liquid phase (8) of the metal (14) can be caused to pass through the outlet opening (10). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the device (40) for generating the inert atmosphere (22) is arranged outside the print head (1), wherein said device comprises an accumulator (41), at least one means (42, 43) for pressure control, and a gas line (50, 51, 52). The invention furthermore relates to methods for operating the device (100).

An example of a multi-fluid kit for three-dimensional printing includes a binder fluid and an adhesion promoter fluid. The binder fluid includes water and polymer particles in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 40 wt % based on the total weight of the binder fluid. The adhesion promoter fluid includes water and an aromatic dihydrazide adhesion promoter in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % based on a total weight of the adhesion promoter fluid.