A process for preparing alloy products is described using a self-sustaining or self-propagating SHS-type combustion process with point-source ignition, preferably a laser, in a pressurized vessel. Binary, ternary and quaternary alloys can be formed with control over polycrystalline structure and bandgap. Methods to tune the bandgap and the alloys formed are described. The alloy products may be doped. Preferably sulfides, tellurides or selenides are formed. Cooling during reaction takes place.

A water-atomized metal powder is produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder. Cooling with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more enables can be performed not in the film boiling region but in the transition boiling region from the beginning of cooling. A gas-atomized metal powder may also be produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making an inert gas impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more.

A water-atomized metal powder is produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder. Cooling with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more enables can be performed not in the film boiling region but in the transition boiling region from the beginning of cooling. A gas-atomized metal powder may also be produced by dividing a molten metal stream into a metal powder by making an inert gas impinge on the molten metal stream and cooling the metal powder with injection water having a liquid temperature of 10 C. or less and an injection pressure of 5 MPa or more.

Provided is a laminate molding apparatus including a chamber, a laser irradiation device, an inert gas supply device, a fume collector, and an evacuate device. The evacuate device includes an intake port, an evacuate amount adjusting portion, a controller, and an evacuate port. The intake port is connected to any part of the laminate molding apparatus through which the inert gas flows, and takes in the inert gas. The evacuate amount adjusting portion adjusts an evacuate amount of the inert gas. The controller controls the evacuate amount adjusting portion to evacuate the inert gas such that an atmospheric pressure in the chamber and an external atmospheric pressure become uniform within a range in which leakage of the inert gas from the chamber is suppressed. The evacuate port evacuates the inert gas from which fumes have been removed to the outside of the laminate molding apparatus.

Provided is a laminate molding apparatus including a chamber, a laser irradiation device, an inert gas supply device, a fume collector, and an evacuate device. The evacuate device includes an intake port, an evacuate amount adjusting portion, a controller, and an evacuate port. The intake port is connected to any part of the laminate molding apparatus through which the inert gas flows, and takes in the inert gas. The evacuate amount adjusting portion adjusts an evacuate amount of the inert gas. The controller controls the evacuate amount adjusting portion to evacuate the inert gas such that an atmospheric pressure in the chamber and an external atmospheric pressure become uniform within a range in which leakage of the inert gas from the chamber is suppressed. The evacuate port evacuates the inert gas from which fumes have been removed to the outside of the laminate molding apparatus.

Application unit (4) for an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which application unit (4) is adapted to apply build material (3) onto a build plane (5) and/or a previously applied layer (6) of build material (3), wherein the application unit (4) is adapted to selectively apply build material (3) onto at least one application region (7) of the build plane (5) or of the previously applied layer (6), wherein at least one application element (8, 21) is provided that is adapted to transfer build material (3) previously applied onto an application surface (9) of the application element (8, 21) to the application region (7), wherein an adhesion unit (10, 20, 22) is provided that is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material (3) of the application surface (9) of the application element (8, 21) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material (3).

Application unit (4) for an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which application unit (4) is adapted to apply build material (3) onto a build plane (5) and/or a previously applied layer (6) of build material (3), wherein the application unit (4) is adapted to selectively apply build material (3) onto at least one application region (7) of the build plane (5) or of the previously applied layer (6), wherein at least one application element (8, 21) is provided that is adapted to transfer build material (3) previously applied onto an application surface (9) of the application element (8, 21) to the application region (7), wherein an adhesion unit (10, 20, 22) is provided that is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material (3) of the application surface (9) of the application element (8, 21) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material (3).

A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively fuse powdered material to form a workpiece, in the presence of a gas flow, the method including: using at least one gas flow sensor to generate at least one gas flow measurement; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process in response to the at least one gas flow measurement.

A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively fuse powdered material to form a workpiece, in the presence of a gas flow, the method including: using at least one gas flow sensor to generate at least one gas flow measurement; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process in response to the at least one gas flow measurement.

A method for producing material powder, comprising providing material and an atomization gas charged with an atomization gas pressure by means of an atomization gas compressor to an atomization device, melting the material and pulverizing the molten material into material powder by means of charging the molten material with the atomization gas using the atomization device, introducing the material powder from the atomization device into a pressurized container and providing a conveyor gas charged with a conveyer gas pressure by means of a conveyer gas compressor to the pressurized container, wherein the conveyor gas pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure and lower than the atomization gas pressure, as well as a device for carrying out the method.