A method of manufacturing a piece of metal alloy or of metal matrix composite materials consisting of making a preform by additive manufacturing by adding material in successive layers, and subjecting the preform to a forging operation taking place in a single step and between two dies to deform said preform to a final shape of the piece to be obtained.

A method of manufacturing a piece of metal alloy or of metal matrix composite materials consisting of making a preform by additive manufacturing by adding material in successive layers, and subjecting the preform to a forging operation taking place in a single step and between two dies to deform said preform to a final shape of the piece to be obtained.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material by exposure to a radiation. A hollow body is arranged in a process chamber above a build area which hollow body substantially extends from the build area in a direction of an upper side of the wall of the process chamber. Gas is supplied to the process chamber in such a manner and gas is discharged from the process chamber in such a manner that a lower pressure exists in the region of the process chamber lying within the hollow body than in the region of the process chamber lying outside the hollow body.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material by exposure to a radiation. A hollow body is arranged in a process chamber above a build area which hollow body substantially extends from the build area in a direction of an upper side of the wall of the process chamber. Gas is supplied to the process chamber in such a manner and gas is discharged from the process chamber in such a manner that a lower pressure exists in the region of the process chamber lying within the hollow body than in the region of the process chamber lying outside the hollow body.

A method for creating a metallurgic component comprises creating a thin-walled container corresponding to a shape of the metallurgic component from a metal. If powder metal is not already in the container (depending on a method of creating the container), the thin-walled container is filled with powder metal. A quick-can device is fixed to the thin-walled container, and the powder metal is consolidated inside the thin-walled container (e.g., in a hot isostatic press). During consolidation, pressure within the thin-walled container is monitored and a desired pressure differential between an inside of the thin-walled container and an outside of the thin-walled container is maintained by the quick-can device.

A method for creating a metallurgic component comprises creating a thin-walled container corresponding to a shape of the metallurgic component from a metal. If powder metal is not already in the container (depending on a method of creating the container), the thin-walled container is filled with powder metal. A quick-can device is fixed to the thin-walled container, and the powder metal is consolidated inside the thin-walled container (e.g., in a hot isostatic press). During consolidation, pressure within the thin-walled container is monitored and a desired pressure differential between an inside of the thin-walled container and an outside of the thin-walled container is maintained by the quick-can device.

Disclosed is a method of generating a ceiling gas stream in the course of the generative manufacturing of a three-dimensional object in a process chamber by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material within a build area arranged in the process chamber. The process chamber has a chamber wall having a process chamber ceiling lying above the build area. A ceiling gas stream of a process gas is passed through the process chamber which is streaming from the process chamber ceiling towards the build area in a controlled manner. In the course of this, the ceiling gas stream is supplied to the process chamber through ceiling inlets formed in the process chamber ceiling such that the ceiling gas stream is directed substantially perpendicularly to the build area downwards onto the build area as it exits the ceiling inlets.

Disclosed is a method of generating a ceiling gas stream in the course of the generative manufacturing of a three-dimensional object in a process chamber by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material within a build area arranged in the process chamber. The process chamber has a chamber wall having a process chamber ceiling lying above the build area. A ceiling gas stream of a process gas is passed through the process chamber which is streaming from the process chamber ceiling towards the build area in a controlled manner. In the course of this, the ceiling gas stream is supplied to the process chamber through ceiling inlets formed in the process chamber ceiling such that the ceiling gas stream is directed substantially perpendicularly to the build area downwards onto the build area as it exits the ceiling inlets.

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.

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.