This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.

Various embodiments include approaches for controlling an additive manufacturing (AM) process. In some cases, an AM system includes: a process chamber for additively manufacturing a component, the process chamber at least partially housing a plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, each of the distinct melting beam scanners configured to emit a melting beam, wherein each of the distinct melting beam scanners is independently physically movable within a corresponding region of the process chamber; and a control system coupled with the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, the control system configured to control movement of at least one of the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners within the corresponding region based upon a geometry of the component.

Various embodiments include approaches for controlling an additive manufacturing (AM) process. In some cases, an AM system includes: a process chamber for additively manufacturing a component, the process chamber at least partially housing a plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, each of the distinct melting beam scanners configured to emit a melting beam, wherein each of the distinct melting beam scanners is independently physically movable within a corresponding region of the process chamber; and a control system coupled with the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, the control system configured to control movement of at least one of the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners within the corresponding region based upon a geometry of the component.

In a method for severing a solid body, a defined contour is stored in a control unit configured to detect contour breaches and to avoid contour breaches. A high-energy beam is moved along a contour on a surface of the solid body, with the surface of the solid body facing the high-energy beam, to produce with the high-energy beam a cutting gap. The contour on the surface is compared with the defined contour stored in the control unit, and avoidance of the contour breach is automatically deactivated when the contour on the surface of the solid body matches the defined contour and a contour breach is detected. Otherwise, the contour is omitted. Advantageously, the high-energy beam travels along the contour with an averaged line movement.

In a method for severing a solid body, a defined contour is stored in a control unit configured to detect contour breaches and to avoid contour breaches. A high-energy beam is moved along a contour on a surface of the solid body, with the surface of the solid body facing the high-energy beam, to produce with the high-energy beam a cutting gap. The contour on the surface is compared with the defined contour stored in the control unit, and avoidance of the contour breach is automatically deactivated when the contour on the surface of the solid body matches the defined contour and a contour breach is detected. Otherwise, the contour is omitted. Advantageously, the high-energy beam travels along the contour with an averaged line movement.

A three-dimensional shaping method utilizing a powder layer forming step, and a sintering step with a laser beam or electron beam, the method including the steps of a) measuring the reflection intensity of the beam irradiated in each sintering step, or the reflection intensity of other light, b) commanding to continue sintering within the next time unit, or when the next powder layer forming step is given, when it has been detected that the reflection intensity of the step a) is within a standard range for a given time unit, and, c) judging that a sintering defect has been produced, and commanding to cancel sintering in the next time unit, or when the next powder layer forming step is given, when it is detected that a condition has occurred in which the reflection intensity of step a) deviates from the standard range for a given time unit.

A three-dimensional shaping method utilizing a powder layer forming step, and a sintering step with a laser beam or electron beam, the method including the steps of a) measuring the reflection intensity of the beam irradiated in each sintering step, or the reflection intensity of other light, b) commanding to continue sintering within the next time unit, or when the next powder layer forming step is given, when it has been detected that the reflection intensity of the step a) is within a standard range for a given time unit, and, c) judging that a sintering defect has been produced, and commanding to cancel sintering in the next time unit, or when the next powder layer forming step is given, when it is detected that a condition has occurred in which the reflection intensity of step a) deviates from the standard range for a given time unit.

This invention can maintain the temperature of the shaping plane in a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus. A three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus includes a material spreader that spreads the material or materials of a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object onto the shaping plane on which the three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object is to be shaped; an electron gun that generates an electron beam; at least one deflector that deflects the electron beam so that it scans the shaping plane one- or two-dimensionally; at least one lens that is positioned between the electron gun and the deflector, and focuses the electron beam; a focus controller that controls the focus of the electron beam based on which region is to be scanned by the electron beam; and a controller that controls the deflecting direction of the deflector and the scanning rate.

This invention can maintain the temperature of the shaping plane in a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus. A three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus includes a material spreader that spreads the material or materials of a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object onto the shaping plane on which the three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object is to be shaped; an electron gun that generates an electron beam; at least one deflector that deflects the electron beam so that it scans the shaping plane one- or two-dimensionally; at least one lens that is positioned between the electron gun and the deflector, and focuses the electron beam; a focus controller that controls the focus of the electron beam based on which region is to be scanned by the electron beam; and a controller that controls the deflecting direction of the deflector and the scanning rate.

An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece comprises a carrier to receive a layer of raw material powder, a control unit, an irradiation system adapted to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the irradiation system in such a manner that the raw material powder is heated to a first temperature which allows sintering and/or melting of the raw material powder in order to generate a layer of the three-dimensional work piece, and a heating system adapted to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the operation of the heating system in such a manner that the raw material powder is heated to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.