A system, method and apparatus for additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes fluidizing particles with a medium to form a fluidized bed and additively manufacturing an article formed from the particles. The article has an open porous structure defining a plurality of pores and a plurality of fluid paths through the article. The method further includes flowing the particles and the medium through the fluid paths while the fluid paths are being formed. The article may be additively manufactured by selectively sintering the particles at target areas on the article which are near the surface of the fluidized bed.

A modeling method for a workpiece and the workpiece are provided. When the workpiece, at least a part of the workpiece has a hollow region and two or more openings linking an inside and the outside of the hollow region, is additively manufactured, a temporary closure to block at least one of the two or more openings of the hollow region is manufactured at a same time as laminating of a wall section of the hollow region. A peripheral edge of the temporary closure joined to the wall section, and the temporary closure has a flow hole allowing a fluid to flow in or out of the hollow region, then the temporary closure is removed after the fluid has flowed in or out.

A modeling method for a workpiece and the workpiece are provided. When the workpiece, at least a part of the workpiece has a hollow region and two or more openings linking an inside and the outside of the hollow region, is additively manufactured, a temporary closure to block at least one of the two or more openings of the hollow region is manufactured at a same time as laminating of a wall section of the hollow region. A peripheral edge of the temporary closure joined to the wall section, and the temporary closure has a flow hole allowing a fluid to flow in or out of the hollow region, then the temporary closure is removed after the fluid has flowed in or out.

A system, method and apparatus for additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes fluidizing particles with a medium to form a fluidized bed and additively manufacturing an article formed from the particles. The article has an open porous structure defining a plurality of pores and a plurality of fluid paths through the article. The method further includes flowing the particles and the medium through the fluid paths while the fluid paths are being formed. The article may be additively manufactured by selectively sintering the particles at target areas on the article which are near the surface of the fluidized bed.

A system, method and apparatus for additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes fluidizing particles with a medium to form a fluidized bed and additively manufacturing an article formed from the particles. The article has an open porous structure defining a plurality of pores and a plurality of fluid paths through the article. The method further includes flowing the particles and the medium through the fluid paths while the fluid paths are being formed. The article may be additively manufactured by selectively sintering the particles at target areas on the article which are near the surface of the fluidized bed.

A surface treatment method for a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder of the present disclosure is used for a surface treatment on a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder containing rare earth elements and nickel as constituent elements, including an immersion process in which the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder is immersed in an aqueous alkaline solution; and a removal process in which a liquid containing the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder immersed in the aqueous alkaline solution is introduced into a liquid cyclone, and undesired substances having a smaller specific gravity than the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder adhered to the surface of the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder are removed.

A system for treatment of atomized powder including a fluidized bed operable to treat feedstock alloy powders. A method of treating atomized powder including communicating an inert gas into a fluidized bed; communicating an atomized powder into the fluidized bed; and heating the atomized powder in the fluidized bed, eject the treated powders out of the fluidized bed to quench the powders.

A system for treatment of atomized powder including a fluidized bed operable to treat feedstock alloy powders. A method of treating atomized powder including communicating an inert gas into a fluidized bed; communicating an atomized powder into the fluidized bed; and heating the atomized powder in the fluidized bed, eject the treated powders out of the fluidized bed to quench the powders.

The disclosure provides systems and methods for processing powder suitable for laser melting, with at least one component that is or comes into contact with the powder and to which an inert gas is fed. The systems include a central inert gas distributor, which can be connected or is connected to an inert gas source and to which the at least one component is connected by way of an activatable valve, an oxygen sensor in the at least one component, and a controller, which activates the valve on the basis of measurement data of the oxygen sensor. As an alternative or in addition to the central inert gas distributor, the system can have a data processing unit, which records and evaluates the measurement data of the oxygen sensor.

The disclosure provides systems and methods for processing powder suitable for laser melting, with at least one component that is or comes into contact with the powder and to which an inert gas is fed. The systems include a central inert gas distributor, which can be connected or is connected to an inert gas source and to which the at least one component is connected by way of an activatable valve, an oxygen sensor in the at least one component, and a controller, which activates the valve on the basis of measurement data of the oxygen sensor. As an alternative or in addition to the central inert gas distributor, the system can have a data processing unit, which records and evaluates the measurement data of the oxygen sensor.