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.

A method of forming a crack-free aluminum alloy structure using additive manufacturing is presented. A powder bed of precursor aluminum alloy powder is heated. The crack-free aluminum alloy structure is formed within a laser powder bed fusion system encompassing the powder bed during heating.

A method of forming a crack-free aluminum alloy structure using additive manufacturing is presented. A powder bed of precursor aluminum alloy powder is heated. The crack-free aluminum alloy structure is formed within a laser powder bed fusion system encompassing the powder bed during heating.

A system for inspecting a part while said part is produced by additive manufacturing, includes an additive manufacturing apparatus having a build tray, the apparatus being configured to fabricate the part layer-by-layer on the tray; an automated tool holder carrying a tool configured to deposit, add or weld layer-upon-layer of material; the tool holder and tray are configured to move relative to one another along a defined path; and an inspection device attached to the tool holder and configured to scan a layer of material in situ. The tool holder alternately arranges the tool and inspection device in a working position so that the tool holder fixes the tool in the working position for depositing, adding, or welding the layer of material and thereafter the tool holder switches said tool with the inspection device into the working position for scanning and detecting defects in the layer of material.

A system for inspecting a part while said part is produced by additive manufacturing, includes an additive manufacturing apparatus having a build tray, the apparatus being configured to fabricate the part layer-by-layer on the tray; an automated tool holder carrying a tool configured to deposit, add or weld layer-upon-layer of material; the tool holder and tray are configured to move relative to one another along a defined path; and an inspection device attached to the tool holder and configured to scan a layer of material in situ. The tool holder alternately arranges the tool and inspection device in a working position so that the tool holder fixes the tool in the working position for depositing, adding, or welding the layer of material and thereafter the tool holder switches said tool with the inspection device into the working position for scanning and detecting defects in the layer of material.

A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

A method for manufacturing at least a metallic portion of a component: a) depositing metallic material layer by layer onto at least one building platform; b) locally fusing and/or sintering the material layer by layer by supplying energy by at least one high-energy beam in the region of a buildup and joining zone to form at least a portion of at least one component layer of the component portion and/or of the component; c) lowering the building platform layer by layer by a predefined layer thickness; and d) repeating the steps a) through c) until completion of the component portion and/or of the component. Before, during and/or after process step b), at least one further portion of the component layer is formed by locally fusing and/or sintering the material by inductive heating at a temperature or in a temperature range above the solidus temperature of the metallic material used. A system for manufacturing at least a portion of a component is also provided.

A method for manufacturing at least a metallic portion of a component: a) depositing metallic material layer by layer onto at least one building platform; b) locally fusing and/or sintering the material layer by layer by supplying energy by at least one high-energy beam in the region of a buildup and joining zone to form at least a portion of at least one component layer of the component portion and/or of the component; c) lowering the building platform layer by layer by a predefined layer thickness; and d) repeating the steps a) through c) until completion of the component portion and/or of the component. Before, during and/or after process step b), at least one further portion of the component layer is formed by locally fusing and/or sintering the material by inductive heating at a temperature or in a temperature range above the solidus temperature of the metallic material used. A system for manufacturing at least a portion of a component is also provided.

A flaw detector that detects a flaw in a surface layer portion of a three-dimensional multilayer object during production. The flaw detector includes a probe extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction which is a scanning direction. The probe contains a plurality of coil units disposed side by side in the second direction and each of the coil units includes an excitation coil generating an eddy current in the surface layer portion, and a pair of detection coils disposed side by side inside the excitation coil.