The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems and/or software to form one or more three-dimensional objects, some of which may be complex. The three-dimensional objects may be formed by three-dimensional printing using one or more methodologies. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional object may comprise an overhang portion, such as a cavity ceiling, with diminished deformation and/or auxiliary support structures.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems and/or software to form one or more three-dimensional objects, some of which may be complex. The three-dimensional objects may be formed by three-dimensional printing using one or more methodologies. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional object may comprise an overhang portion, such as a cavity ceiling, with diminished deformation and/or auxiliary support structures.

The present invention provides a modification to the EBW process, which is referred to as a slope-out methodology, the results in the formation of a slope-out portion located generally in that region of the overall weldment located at the end of the ordinary EBW welding process for joining two components. The slope-out portion overlaps with the initial weld of the workpiece for a given distance or length along the weld and effectively eliminates the keyhole and provides a weldment that has minimal to no defects, particularly in the slope-out portion. The slope-out methodology begins by adjusting various parameters related to the electron beam to essentially decay the beam. In general, the focus position of the electron beam is moved from under-focused (focal position in the bulk of the material) to over-focused (focal position ahead of the workpiece surface) as the overlapping weld is made.

A core-shell structured alloy powder for additive manufacturing, an additively manufactured precipitation dispersion strengthened alloy component, and a method for additively manufacturing the component are provided. The alloy powder comprises a plurality of particles, where one or more of the plurality of particles comprise an alloy powder core and an oxygen or nitrogen rich shell disposed on at least a portion of the alloy powder core. The alloy powder core comprises an alloy constituent matrix with one or more reactive elements, where the reactive elements are configured to react with oxygen, nitrogen, or both. The alloy constituent matrix comprises stainless steel, an iron based alloy, a nickel based alloy, a nickel-iron based alloy, a cobalt based alloy, a copper based alloy, an aluminum based alloy, a titanium based alloy, or combinations thereof. The alloy constituent matrix comprises reactive elements present in a range from about 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent of a total weight of the alloy powder.

A core-shell structured alloy powder for additive manufacturing, an additively manufactured precipitation dispersion strengthened alloy component, and a method for additively manufacturing the component are provided. The alloy powder comprises a plurality of particles, where one or more of the plurality of particles comprise an alloy powder core and an oxygen or nitrogen rich shell disposed on at least a portion of the alloy powder core. The alloy powder core comprises an alloy constituent matrix with one or more reactive elements, where the reactive elements are configured to react with oxygen, nitrogen, or both. The alloy constituent matrix comprises stainless steel, an iron based alloy, a nickel based alloy, a nickel-iron based alloy, a cobalt based alloy, a copper based alloy, an aluminum based alloy, a titanium based alloy, or combinations thereof. The alloy constituent matrix comprises reactive elements present in a range from about 0.01 weight percent to 10 weight percent of a total weight of the alloy powder.

A method of manufacturing a metal object by selective melting of a metal powder is provided. The method includes forming the metal object layer by layer in a metal powder bed on a retractable build platform. During the forming, a metal sleeve is provided spaced apart from and substantially paralleling an outer surface of the metal object, the metal sleeve being separated from the metal object by a gap filled with non-melted metal powder. The metal sleeve reduces thermal distortions in the object. An additive manufacturing system that includes a metallic sleeve that surrounds the metal object as it is formed is also disclosed.

The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatuses adapted to perform additive manufacturing (AM) processes and the resulting products made therefrom, and specifically, to AM processes that employ an energy beam to selectively fuse a base material to produce an object. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and systems that use reactive fluids to actively manipulate the surface chemistry of the base material prior to, during and/or after the AM process.

A method for producing in particular conical bore holes in work pieces, wherein the contouring and cross-sectional form of the bore hole can be influenced in that one or a plurality of operating parameters are changed, which parameters are elected from the following group: pulse length, beam diameter, beam current, acceleration voltage, beam focusing, deviation of the electron beam from a beam axis, movement velocity of the electron beam over the work piece.

A method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint includes forming cup and shaft members of medium carbon steel, the cup member being manufactured by preparing a cup member having cylindrical and bottom portions being integrally formed, and a fitting hole formed in a thick portion of the bottom portion, the shaft member being manufactured by preparing a shaft member having a fitting outer surface formed at an end portion of the shaft member to be joined to the bottom portion of the cup member, and fitting the fitting hole of the cup member to the fitting outer surface of the shaft member. The method also includes welding the cup and shaft members from an inner side of the cup member to a fitted portion between the cup and shaft members.

In a method for controlling an irradiation system (20) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a first and a second irradiation unit (22a, 22b) a first irradiation area (18a) is defined on a surface of a carrier (16) adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by the first irradiation unit (22a) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the first irradiation unit (22a) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is pre-heated. Thereafter the layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by means of the second irradiation unit (22b) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the second irradiation unit (22b) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is heated to a temperature which allows sintering and/or melting of the raw material powder in order to generate a layer of the three-dimensional work piece.