A method for producing three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with at least two electron beams, said method comprises a pre-heating step, wherein the pre-heating step comprises the sub-step of scanning a pre-heating powder layer area (100) by scanning a first electron beam in a first region (I) and by scanning a second electron beam in a second region (II) distributed over the pre-heating powder layer area (100), wherein consecutively scanned paths are separated by, at least, a security distance (ΔY), said sub-step further comprising the step of synchronising the preheating of said first and second electron beams when simultaneously preheating said powder material within said first and second regions respectively, so that said first and second electron beams are always separated to each other with at least a minimum security distance (ΔX).

A system for generating a user-adjustable furnace profile, comprises a user interface configured to receive one or more materials properties from a user, a processor, and a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon. The memory is operatively coupled to the processor such that, when executed by the processor, the computer code instructions cause the system to implement communicating with a furnace to ascertain one or more thermal processes associated with the furnace, identifying one or more object characteristics associated with an object to be processed by furnace, and determining a thermal processing parameter profile of at least one thermal processing parameter corresponding to each of the thermal processes, based on (i) the one or more part characteristics and (ii) the one or more materials properties, the thermal processing parameter profile characterizing a cycle of the one or more thermal processes.

In an example three-dimensional printing method, individual layers of a metal-based build material are patterned, based on a 3D object model, with a binding agent to form an intermediate structure. A case-hardened portion of a 3D object is also patterned (based on the object model) by selectively depositing a hardening agent to deliver a predetermined concentration of a hardening element to at least one of the individual layers, wherein the individual layers are maintained below a vaporization temperature of the hardening agent during the selectively depositing. The intermediate structure is heated at a first rate to a temperature that aids in diffusion of the hardening element, and is held at the temperature for a predetermined time. The intermediate structure is cooled at a second rate. The intermediate structure, with the patterned case-hardened portion, is then sintered at a sintering temperature of the metal-based build material.

In an example three-dimensional printing method, individual layers of a metal-based build material are patterned, based on a 3D object model, with a binding agent to form an intermediate structure. A case-hardened portion of a 3D object is also patterned (based on the object model) by selectively depositing a hardening agent to deliver a predetermined concentration of a hardening element to at least one of the individual layers, wherein the individual layers are maintained below a vaporization temperature of the hardening agent during the selectively depositing. The intermediate structure is heated at a first rate to a temperature that aids in diffusion of the hardening element, and is held at the temperature for a predetermined time. The intermediate structure is cooled at a second rate. The intermediate structure, with the patterned case-hardened portion, is then sintered at a sintering temperature of the metal-based build material.

A method of additive manufacturing includes supplying additive manufacturing powder to a build area of an additive manufacturing machine. The method includes fusing a portion of the powder to form a part, and removing a non-fused portion of the powder from the build area into a removable vessel for storing non-fused powder after building a part. The method can include supplying additive manufacturing powder to a build area, fusing a portion of the powder, and removing a non-fused portion of the powder all on a single discrete lot of additive manufacturing powder without mixing lots.

A method of additive manufacturing includes supplying additive manufacturing powder to a build area of an additive manufacturing machine. The method includes fusing a portion of the powder to form a part, and removing a non-fused portion of the powder from the build area into a removable vessel for storing non-fused powder after building a part. The method can include supplying additive manufacturing powder to a build area, fusing a portion of the powder, and removing a non-fused portion of the powder all on a single discrete lot of additive manufacturing powder without mixing lots.

In an example of a method for three-dimensional (3D) printing, build material layers are patterned to form an intermediate structure. During patterning, a binding agent is selectively applied to define: a build material support structure and a patterned intermediate part. Also during patterning, i) the binding agent and a separate agent including a gas precursor or ii) a combined agent including a binder and the gas precursor are selectively applied to define a patterned breakable connection between at least a portion of the build material support structure and at least a portion patterned intermediate part. The intermediate structure is heated to a temperature that activates the gas precursor to create gas pockets in the patterned breakable connection.

In an example of a method for three-dimensional (3D) printing, build material layers are patterned to form an intermediate structure. During patterning, a binding agent is selectively applied to define: a build material support structure and a patterned intermediate part. Also during patterning, i) the binding agent and a separate agent including a gas precursor or ii) a combined agent including a binder and the gas precursor are selectively applied to define a patterned breakable connection between at least a portion of the build material support structure and at least a portion patterned intermediate part. The intermediate structure is heated to a temperature that activates the gas precursor to create gas pockets in the patterned breakable connection.

A method of making sintered components made from an iron-based powder composition and the sintered component per se. The method is especially suited for producing components which will be subjected to wear at elevated temperatures, consequently the components consists of a heat resistant stainless steel with hard phases including chromium carbo-nitrides. Examples of such components are parts in turbochargers for internal combustion engines.

A method for preparing an oxygen-free passivated titanium or titanium-alloy powder product by means of gas-solid fluidization is provided. The new method includes placing the metal halide and the titanium powder which meet formula requirements into a gasifier and a fluidized bed reactor respectively; heating the gasifier to gasify the metal halide, and introducing dry argon and halide gas into the fluidized bed reactor; opening the fluidized bed, heating the fluidized bed, fluidizing the titanium powder after the introduction of the argon and the metal halide gas, and cooling the product to obtain the titanium powder subjected to oxygen-free passivation using metal chloride; molding the oxygen-free passivated titanium powder into a green body with powder metallurgy technology; and sintering the green body in vacuum or argon atmosphere according to the molding technology, and after temperature rise treatment, performing a densification sintering operation to obtain a high-performance titanium product component.