A powder bed machine including a distribution device, which is configured to be charged with process material. The powder bed machine has a residual powder tank within the manufacturing process, wherein the residual powder tank holds a surplus of the process material. The powder bed machine is positioned on feet and weighing cells are located in the feet.

A system for connecting electronic assemblies, in particular a soldering and/or sintering system, has a transport device for conveying the assemblies through the system, with a plurality of gas-tightly separable modules for connecting the assemblies to one another. At least one module is a soldering and/or sintering module and one module is a cooling module. Between the soldering/sintering and the cooling module, a further module is a soft cooling module for cooling between a process temperature of the soldering or sintering module and an intermediate temperature, in particular below a solder solidification temperature. In a soldering or sintering module in a gas-tightly sealable process chamber, in particular in the soft cooling module, at least one heat source is contactable with the assemblies for heating the assemblies and at least one cold trap is arranged, having in operation a surface temperature which is lower than a heat source operating temperature.

A system for connecting electronic assemblies, in particular a soldering and/or sintering system, has a transport device for conveying the assemblies through the system, with a plurality of gas-tightly separable modules for connecting the assemblies to one another. At least one module is a soldering and/or sintering module and one module is a cooling module. Between the soldering/sintering and the cooling module, a further module is a soft cooling module for cooling between a process temperature of the soldering or sintering module and an intermediate temperature, in particular below a solder solidification temperature. In a soldering or sintering module in a gas-tightly sealable process chamber, in particular in the soft cooling module, at least one heat source is contactable with the assemblies for heating the assemblies and at least one cold trap is arranged, having in operation a surface temperature which is lower than a heat source operating temperature.

Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a three-dimensional object using additive manufacturing. One method includes depositing a first amount of powder material onto a powder print bed of a printing system, spreading the first amount of powder material across the powder print bed to form a first layer, measuring a density of powder material within the powder print bed, and adjusting a parameter of the printing system based on the measured density of the powder material within the powder print bed.

A building time for building an additively-manufactured object is calculated on the basis of the inter-pass time and the welding pass time and is compared with a preset upper limit value, and welding conditions in a depositing plan are repeatedly modified until the building time is equal to or less than the upper limit value. Alternatively, corrections are repeatedly performed until the shape difference between a building shape of built-up object shape data relating to the additively-manufactured object created on the basis of the inter-pass time and the inter-pass temperature, and a building shape of three-dimensional shape data, is smaller than a near net value.

A building time for building an additively-manufactured object is calculated on the basis of the inter-pass time and the welding pass time and is compared with a preset upper limit value, and welding conditions in a depositing plan are repeatedly modified until the building time is equal to or less than the upper limit value. Alternatively, corrections are repeatedly performed until the shape difference between a building shape of built-up object shape data relating to the additively-manufactured object created on the basis of the inter-pass time and the inter-pass temperature, and a building shape of three-dimensional shape data, is smaller than a near net value.

A method comprises receiving data representing a 3D object model. The 3D object model is for use in generating a 3D object in a build chamber by forming a plurality of successive layers. Each layer is formed by providing a layer of build material and applying a volume of a binder agent to a plurality of voxel locations of the layer of the build material. The volume of the binder agent to be applied to each voxel location is based on the volume of binder agent to be applied to proximate voxel locations of the 3D object.

A method comprises receiving data representing a 3D object model. The 3D object model is for use in generating a 3D object in a build chamber by forming a plurality of successive layers. Each layer is formed by providing a layer of build material and applying a volume of a binder agent to a plurality of voxel locations of the layer of the build material. The volume of the binder agent to be applied to each voxel location is based on the volume of binder agent to be applied to proximate voxel locations of the 3D object.

A device for fabricating a three-dimensional part by selectively melting a powder bed, the device including a first tank for containing a first powder and provided with a first powder dispenser valve, a second tank for containing a second different powder and provided with a second powder dispenser valve, a first and a second monitoring device for monitoring the quantity of first powder delivered by the first valve and the quantity of second powder delivered by the second valve, a mixer chamber in communication with the first and second valves and including a third powder dispenser valve, and a mixer for mixing the powder particles in the chamber, a support for receiving the powder delivered by the third valve and on which the parts is to be fabricated, a powder spreader for spreading powder on the support, and a heater member for locally melting the powder spread on the support.

A device for fabricating a three-dimensional part by selectively melting a powder bed, the device including a first tank for containing a first powder and provided with a first powder dispenser valve, a second tank for containing a second different powder and provided with a second powder dispenser valve, a first and a second monitoring device for monitoring the quantity of first powder delivered by the first valve and the quantity of second powder delivered by the second valve, a mixer chamber in communication with the first and second valves and including a third powder dispenser valve, and a mixer for mixing the powder particles in the chamber, a support for receiving the powder delivered by the third valve and on which the parts is to be fabricated, a powder spreader for spreading powder on the support, and a heater member for locally melting the powder spread on the support.