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 system for manufacturing three dimensional objects can include logic to detect, for at least one vessel, a moisture content level corresponding to a build material residing in the at least one vessel. The logic can also adjust a humidity level and a temperature of a gas and a conditioning agent applied to the at least one vessel, wherein the humidity level and the temperature are based on the moisture content level and a temperature of the build material residing in the at least one vessel. Additionally, the logic can initialize manufacturing a three dimensional object with the build material from the at least one vessel in response to detecting the moisture content level of the build material residing in the at least one vessel is within a predetermined range.

A system for manufacturing three dimensional objects can include logic to detect, for at least one vessel, a moisture content level corresponding to a build material residing in the at least one vessel. The logic can also adjust a humidity level and a temperature of a gas and a conditioning agent applied to the at least one vessel, wherein the humidity level and the temperature are based on the moisture content level and a temperature of the build material residing in the at least one vessel. Additionally, the logic can initialize manufacturing a three dimensional object with the build material from the at least one vessel in response to detecting the moisture content level of the build material residing in the at least one vessel is within a predetermined range.

This disclosure concerns building of three-dimensional objects in a fluidized bed of particles. The invention uses the fluidized bed as a medium for building three-dimensional objects by joining individual particles together in a planned pattern to fabricate a product. The fluid-like properties of the fluidized bed permit movement of computer-controlled, mechanically driven probes through the fluidized medium. The probes deliver adhesives or energy to specific points in the fluidized bed. The adhesives bind the particles together. Energy delivered by the probes causes fusion and welding or chemical bonding of the particles. The invention encompasses any shape, size, or composition of particles. Particles may be joined but not limited to adhesion, welding, and chemical bonding. Auxiliary features include use of stationary or mobile forms, changing the pattern of fluidization, use of multiple probes working simultaneously, and introduction of solid objects into the build, etc., to assist in forming the product.

This disclosure concerns building of three-dimensional objects in a fluidized bed of particles. The invention uses the fluidized bed as a medium for building three-dimensional objects by joining individual particles together in a planned pattern to fabricate a product. The fluid-like properties of the fluidized bed permit movement of computer-controlled, mechanically driven probes through the fluidized medium. The probes deliver adhesives or energy to specific points in the fluidized bed. The adhesives bind the particles together. Energy delivered by the probes causes fusion and welding or chemical bonding of the particles. The invention encompasses any shape, size, or composition of particles. Particles may be joined but not limited to adhesion, welding, and chemical bonding. Auxiliary features include use of stationary or mobile forms, changing the pattern of fluidization, use of multiple probes working simultaneously, and introduction of solid objects into the build, etc., to assist in forming the product.

A method for preparing an oxygen-free passivated titanium or titanium-alloy powder product by means of gas-solid fluidization is provided. The new method includes placing the metal halide and the titanium powder which meet formula requirements into a gasifier and a fluidized bed reactor respectively; heating the gasifier to gasify the metal halide, and introducing dry argon and halide gas into the fluidized bed reactor; opening the fluidized bed, heating the fluidized bed, fluidizing the titanium powder after the introduction of the argon and the metal halide gas, and cooling the product to obtain the titanium powder subjected to oxygen-free passivation using metal chloride; molding the oxygen-free passivated titanium powder into a green body with powder metallurgy technology; and sintering the green body in vacuum or argon atmosphere according to the molding technology, and after temperature rise treatment, performing a densification sintering operation to obtain a high-performance titanium product component.

A method based on fluidizing for modifying and preparing low-cost titanium powders for 3D printing includes: using hydrogenated-dehydrogenated irregularly-shaped titanium powders as the raw material, adding the titanium powders to a fluidized bed reactor, and introducing Ar or H.sub.2 at the flow rate of 0.5-1.5 L/min, heating the reactor to 300-700° C., and fluidizing for 5-90 min to modify the titanium powders. When filled with high-purity argon gas and heated at high temperature, the sharp edges and corners of irregularly-shaped titanium powders are ground collision of the particles due to the friction among powder particles.

A method based on fluidizing for modifying and preparing low-cost titanium powders for 3D printing includes: using hydrogenated-dehydrogenated irregularly-shaped titanium powders as the raw material, adding the titanium powders to a fluidized bed reactor, and introducing Ar or H.sub.2 at the flow rate of 0.5-1.5 L/min, heating the reactor to 300-700° C., and fluidizing for 5-90 min to modify the titanium powders. When filled with high-purity argon gas and heated at high temperature, the sharp edges and corners of irregularly-shaped titanium powders are ground collision of the particles due to the friction among powder particles.

A powder cleaning system can include a fluidized bed reactor configured to retain powder and fluidize the powder to remove adsorbate and/or other contaminants from the powder, at least one inlet line, and one or more gas sources configured to be in selective fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor via the at least one inlet line to selectively provide an inlet flow having one or more gases to the fluidized bed reactor to fluidize the powder with the one or more gases within the fluidized bed reactor. The system can include at least one outlet line in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor and configured to allow removal of outlet flow which comprises the adsorbate and/or other contaminants from the fluidized bed reactor.