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 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.

A printing apparatus is for printing a three-dimensional object comprising an operative surface, at least one supply hopper for depositing layers of powder onto the operative surface and an energy source for emitting at least one energy beam onto the layers of powder. The supply hopper and energy source are configured such that when a topmost layer of powder is being deposited onto an underlying layer of powder on the operative surface, the direction travelled by the supply hopper when depositing the topmost layer is different to the direction travelled by the supply hopper when depositing the underlying layer, and at least one energy beam is emitted onto the topmost layer and at least one further energy beam is emitted onto the underlying layer, simultaneously, to melt, fuse or sinter the topmost and underlying layers.

A printing apparatus is for printing a three-dimensional object comprising an operative surface, at least one supply hopper for depositing layers of powder onto the operative surface and an energy source for emitting at least one energy beam onto the layers of powder. The supply hopper and energy source are configured such that when a topmost layer of powder is being deposited onto an underlying layer of powder on the operative surface, the direction travelled by the supply hopper when depositing the topmost layer is different to the direction travelled by the supply hopper when depositing the underlying layer, and at least one energy beam is emitted onto the topmost layer and at least one further energy beam is emitted onto the underlying layer, simultaneously, to melt, fuse or sinter the topmost and underlying layers.

An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material including a first table, a second table rotatably mounted on the first table about a first axis and a third table rotatably mounted on the second table about a second axis. A hollow canister is supported by the third table. A vibrator is arranged to vibrate the canister. A first device is arranged to rotate the second table about the first axis and a second device is arranged to rotate the third table about the second axis. A hopper is arranged to supply powder material into the canister and a valve controls the flow of powder material from the hopper into the canister. A processor is arranged to control the valve, the vibrator, the first device and the second device to control the filling and packing density of the canister.

The invention provides an RFeB sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of R, 0.1-3 at % of M.sub.1, 0.05-0.5 at % of M.sub.2, 4.8+2*m to 5.9+2*m at % of B, and the balance of Fe, containing R.sub.2(Fe,(Co)).sub.14B intermetallic compound as a main phase, and having a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with a HR-rich layer and a (R,HR)Fe(Co)-M.sub.1 phase wherein HR is Tb, Dy or Ho. The sintered magnet exhibits a coercivity 10 kOe despite a low content of Dy, Tb, and Ho.

The invention provides an RFeB sintered magnet consisting essentially of 12-17 at % of R, 0.1-3 at % of M.sub.1, 0.05-0.5 at % of M.sub.2, 4.8+2*m to 5.9+2*m at % of B, and the balance of Fe, containing R.sub.2(Fe,(Co)).sub.14B intermetallic compound as a main phase, and having a core/shell structure that the main phase is covered with a HR-rich layer and a (R,HR)Fe(Co)-M.sub.1 phase wherein HR is Tb, Dy or Ho. The sintered magnet exhibits a coercivity 10 kOe despite a low content of Dy, Tb, and Ho.

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.

An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material including a first table, a second table rotatably mounted on the first table about a first axis and a third table rotatably mounted on the second table about a second axis. A hollow canister is supported by the third table. A vibrator is arranged to vibrate the canister. A first device is arranged to rotate the second table about the first axis and a second device is arranged to rotate the third table about the second axis. A hopper is arranged to supply powder material into the canister and a valve controls the flow of powder material from the hopper into the canister. A processor is arranged to control the valve, the vibrator, the first device and the second device to control the filling and packing density of the canister.