Apparatus and methods are described for performing additive manufacturing. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber for fabricating a workpiece composed of deposited metal, a table positioned within the vacuum chamber, and configured to support fabrication of the workpiece on a substrate, and one or more multiple droplet emitters coupled to the vacuum chamber, and arranged to irradiate the workpiece with a stream of molten metal droplets during fabrication.

The present invention relates to a 3D printer using a metal alloy filament, wherein the 3D printer introduces a metal alloy filament (650) through a nozzle (610) formed inside an induction heating coil (620), melts and extrudes the filament, and laminates the filament three-dimensionally inside a chamber (500) heated to a similar temperature. The present invention forcibly introduces a metal alloy filament in a nozzle, heated by an induction heating coil which circularly encloses the exterior of the nozzle and forms a cooling passage therein, by means of a transfer gear connected to a transfer motor. A 3D printer for a metal alloy filament is provided in which, in order to prevent the oxidation of a metal alloy laminate (520), an inert gas is introduced, the outside and heat and air are blocked, and a metal alloy filament (650) that is melted in a nozzle and extruded is laminated one layer at a time on a floor plate (510) installed inside a heated chamber (500) and moving three-dimensionally with respect to the nozzle, in order to firmly attach the filament having little deformation.

The present invention relates to a 3D printer using a metal alloy filament, wherein the 3D printer introduces a metal alloy filament (650) through a nozzle (610) formed inside an induction heating coil (620), melts and extrudes the filament, and laminates the filament three-dimensionally inside a chamber (500) heated to a similar temperature. The present invention forcibly introduces a metal alloy filament in a nozzle, heated by an induction heating coil which circularly encloses the exterior of the nozzle and forms a cooling passage therein, by means of a transfer gear connected to a transfer motor. A 3D printer for a metal alloy filament is provided in which, in order to prevent the oxidation of a metal alloy laminate (520), an inert gas is introduced, the outside and heat and air are blocked, and a metal alloy filament (650) that is melted in a nozzle and extruded is laminated one layer at a time on a floor plate (510) installed inside a heated chamber (500) and moving three-dimensionally with respect to the nozzle, in order to firmly attach the filament having little deformation.

An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser (4) for generating a laser beam and a laser head (5) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam (7) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.

An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser (4) for generating a laser beam and a laser head (5) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam (7) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.

3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

3D-printed parts may include binding agents to be removed following an additive manufacturing process. A debinding process removes the binding agents by immersing the part in a solvent bath causing chemical dissolution of the binding agents. The time of exposure of the 3D-printed part to the solvent is determined based on the geometry of the part, wherein the geometry is applied to predict the diffusion of the solvent through the 3D-printed part. The 3D-printed part is then immersed in the solvent bath to remove the binding agent, and is removed from the solvent bath after the time of exposure.

Various embodiments include methods for the powder-bed-based additive manufacturing of a workpiece comprising: manufacturing the workpiece layer by layer in a powder bed, including solidifying a respective uppermost layer of the powder bed using an energy beam. During the solidification of the respective uppermost layer of the powder bed, analyzing a geometry of previously solidified layers below the respective uppermost layer. The method may include reducing an average power over time introduced by the energy beam per unit of area of the powder bed with application of correction parameters if the heat dissipation into the previously solidified layers is reduced in dependence on the workpiece depth available below the energy beam.

Various embodiments include methods for the powder-bed-based additive manufacturing of a workpiece comprising: manufacturing the workpiece layer by layer in a powder bed, including solidifying a respective uppermost layer of the powder bed using an energy beam. During the solidification of the respective uppermost layer of the powder bed, analyzing a geometry of previously solidified layers below the respective uppermost layer. The method may include reducing an average power over time introduced by the energy beam per unit of area of the powder bed with application of correction parameters if the heat dissipation into the previously solidified layers is reduced in dependence on the workpiece depth available below the energy beam.

An additive manufacturing system for building a product includes a base plate for mounting the product thereon, and at least one heating element shaped to at least partially conform to the product and configured to apply heat to at least a portion of the product as the product is additively manufactured to reduce thermal gradients in the product.