A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.

A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.

A method and an apparatus pertaining to polarization combining in additive manufacturing may involve emitting two or more beams of light with a first intensity. Each of the two or more beams of light may be polarized and may have a majority polarization state and a minority polarization state. A respective polarization pattern may be applied on the majority polarization state of each of the two or more beams of light. The two or more beams of light may be combined to provide a single beam of light.

Provided is a three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus 100 including a column unit 200 that is configured to output an electron beam EB and deflect the electron beam EB toward the front surface of a powder layer 32, an electron detector 72 that is configured to detect electrons that may be emitted in a predetermined direction from the front surface of the powder layer 32 when the powder layer 32 is irradiated with the electron beam EB, a melting judging unit 410 that is configured to generate a melting signal based on the strength of the detection signal from the electron detector 72, and a deflection controller 420 that is configured to receive the melting signal to determine the condition of the irradiation the electron beam.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

Method for preparing the upper surface of a build platform for additive manufacturing by powder bed deposition, the method comprises at least one step of increasing the roughness of at least one region of the upper surface of the build platform by imprinting a pattern onto this region. The imprinting of the pattern is done inside the machine for additive manufacturing by powder bed deposition in which the build platform is subsequently used for additive manufacturing by powder bed deposition.

An additive manufacturing device includes: an inner light beam radiation device of radiating an inner light beam; an outer light beam radiation device of radiating an outer light beam; and a control device. when a molten pool is irradiated with the outer light beam, the control device controls a power density of the outer light beam representing an output per unit area such that a cooling rate of the molten pool representing a temperature drop per unit time is 540 C./s or less at a freezing point of a carbide binder included in the molten pool, the molten pool being formed by irradiating a material including a hard material and a carbide binder with the inner light beam to melt the material. According to the present disclosure, the additive manufacturing device can prevent cracking and additively manufacture a high-quality shaped object with a simple configuration.

A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

An apparatus for generating electron radiation comprises: an elongated, wire-shaped hot cathode to emit electron radiation having an elongated, line-shaped cross section perpendicular to a direction of propagation of the electron radiation; a cathode electrode; an anode electrode with an opening through which the electron radiation emitted from the hot cathode can pass, wherein a voltage applied between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode accelerates electrons emitted from the hot cathode; and a deflecting unit to deflect the electron radiation downstream of the opening of the anode electrode, wherein a cross section of the electron radiation perpendicular to the direction of propagation is changed by the deflecting unit to decease a longitudinal extent of the electron radiation and to increase a transverse extent of the electron radiation such that longitudinal and transverse extents of the electron radiation perpendicular to the direction of propagation are about the same size.

A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.