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.

An additive manufacturing method for making a metal matrix composite component includes melting a powdered mixture with an electron beam. The powdered mixture comprises powdered tungsten carbide in an amount of 45 wt % to 72 wt % of the powdered mixture and a powdered binder in an amount of 28 wt % to 55 wt % of the powdered mixture. The powdered binder comprises boron, silicon, and nickel.

An additive manufacturing method for making a metal matrix composite component includes melting a powdered mixture with an electron beam. The powdered mixture comprises powdered tungsten carbide in an amount of 45 wt % to 72 wt % of the powdered mixture and a powdered binder in an amount of 28 wt % to 55 wt % of the powdered mixture. The powdered binder comprises boron, silicon, and nickel.

A constructing-and-forging method for preparing homogenized forged pieces comprises: preparing preformed billets: cutting off a plurality of continuous casting billets, milling and smoothing surfaces of the billets to be welded, performing vacuum plasma cleaning operation to the surfaces to be welded, stacking the plurality of billets and sealing around the surfaces in a vacuum chamber by electron beam welding; forge-welding and homogenizing the preformed billets: heating the preformed billets to a certain temperature in a heating furnace and taking the heated preformed billets out of the heating furnace, forging the preformed billets by a hydraulic press, then using three-dimensional forging to disperse the welded surfaces such that composition, structure and inclusion of the interface areas are at the same level as those of the bodies of the billets. Cheap continuous casting billets are stacked and forge welded.

A constructing-and-forging method for preparing homogenized forged pieces comprises: preparing preformed billets: cutting off a plurality of continuous casting billets, milling and smoothing surfaces of the billets to be welded, performing vacuum plasma cleaning operation to the surfaces to be welded, stacking the plurality of billets and sealing around the surfaces in a vacuum chamber by electron beam welding; forge-welding and homogenizing the preformed billets: heating the preformed billets to a certain temperature in a heating furnace and taking the heated preformed billets out of the heating furnace, forging the preformed billets by a hydraulic press, then using three-dimensional forging to disperse the welded surfaces such that composition, structure and inclusion of the interface areas are at the same level as those of the bodies of the billets. Cheap continuous casting billets are stacked and forge welded.

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 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.

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.

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.