A method of manufacturing a multi-material gear is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) heating a first pre-form element of a first material to a temperature at which the first material can be formed; (b) heating a second pre-form element of a second material to a temperature at which the second material can be formed; and (c) forming the first and second pre-form elements in a die at least towards the shape of the gear, thereby providing bonding between the elements.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved structure formation, part creation and manipulation, use of multiple additive manufacturing systems, and high throughput manufacturing methods suitable for automated or semi-automated factories are also disclosed.

An apparatus and a method for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing involve a multiple-chamber design achieving a high efficiency and throughput. The multiple-chamber design features concurrent printing of one or more print jobs inside one or more build chambers, side removals of printed objects from build chambers allowing quick exchanges of powdered materials, and capabilities of elevated process temperature controls of build chambers and post processing heat treatments of printed objects. The multiple-chamber design also includes a height-adjustable optical assembly in combination with a fixed build platform method suitable for large and heavy printed objects.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

Embodiments include extruder driver gears for three-dimensional printing, extruder driver gear assemblies, and methods of forming and using extruder driver gears. An example extruder driver gear includes a hub configured for coupling to a torque transmitting component, a gear body connected to the hub, and a plurality of filament gripping teeth extending radially from the gear body, the plurality of filament gripping teeth comprising a superhard material.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a unitary ring gear-flange body (URGFB). In an illustrative example, the flange body may be spin-formed and may, for example, include a riser body extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis and a flange extending substantially radially outward from the riser body. To the riser body may, for example, be welded a ring gear to form a unitary assembly, the ring gear having an axis of revolution aligned with the longitudinal axis. A continuous coating may, for example, be applied to at least a selected portion of a surface of the unitary assembly. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a cost-efficient, weight-efficient, and/or time-efficient unitary body which may, for example, be coupled to machinery to provide a shaftless torque-transmitter.

A sprocket assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of sprockets. The carrier has a central axis. Each of the sprockets has a different number of teeth and is formed with a central through hole. The carrier extends into the central through hole of each of the sprockets such that the sprockets are disposed on an outer periphery of the carrier and are disposed along the central axis. At least one of the sprockets is coupled to the carrier by a weld that is formed via a solid-state welding technique.

A sprocket assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of sprockets. The carrier has a central axis. Each of the sprockets has a different number of teeth and is formed with a central through hole. The carrier extends into the central through hole of each of the sprockets such that the sprockets are disposed on an outer periphery of the carrier and are disposed along the central axis. At least one of the sprockets is coupled to the carrier by a weld that is formed via a solid-state welding technique.

A gear box having a carburized shaft and steel bearing assembly. The bearing includes an inner-race and an outer-race. The shaft includes a distal end surface extending perpendicularly from a shaft faying surface and a shaft annular beveled edge. The shaft faying surface is in intimate contact with the inner-race. The inner-race second annular face is coplanar with the distal end surface. The shaft annular beveled edge cooperates with the inner-race faying surface to define a half-V shaped groove. An annular weld joint is formed in the half-V shaped groove thereby joining the shaft to the inner-race. The outer-race includes a first width (W1) and the inner-race includes a second width (W2). W2 is wider than W1 by greater than 0 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm.