A method and system to receive a specification defining a model of a part to be produced by an additive manufacturing (AM) process; define a design space to enclose the part and a support structure for the part, the support structure to support the part and printed with the part during the AM process; execute an iterative topology optimization(TO) based at least in part on the specification for the part and the defined design space, to generate a TO support structure that counteracts predicted gravity-based distortions during the AM process; save a record of the generated TO support structure; and transmit the record of the TO support structure to an AM controller, the AM controller to control an AM system to generate an instance of the part and the TO support structure based on the record.

A method and system to receive a specification defining a model of a part to be produced by an additive manufacturing (AM) process; define a design space to enclose the part and a support structure for the part, the support structure to support the part and printed with the part during the AM process; execute an iterative topology optimization(TO) based at least in part on the specification for the part and the defined design space, to generate a TO support structure that counteracts predicted gravity-based distortions during the AM process; save a record of the generated TO support structure; and transmit the record of the TO support structure to an AM controller, the AM controller to control an AM system to generate an instance of the part and the TO support structure based on the record.

Disclosed is a trolley sealing device for a flue gas circulation system of a sintering machine, including a cover body covering a top surface of a sintering machine trolley. A top end of the cover body is provided with communication assemblies, and the communication assemblies communicate an inner cavity of the cover body with an outside environment; two ends of the inner cavity of the cover body are fixedly connected with vertical adjusting sections respectively, and a sealing device is arranged between the vertical adjusting sections and two ends of the top surface of the sintering machine trolley; and the cover body includes a plurality of frameworks; the plurality of frameworks are arranged above the sintering machine trolley, the communication assemblies are arranged on the frameworks, and skins are fixedly connected with the frameworks; and thermal insulation layers are arranged outside the skins.

A tooling assembly for mounting a plurality of components, such as compressor blades, in a powder bed additive manufacturing machine to facilitate a repair process is provided. The tooling assembly includes component fixtures configured for receiving each of the compressor blades, a mounting plate for receiving the component fixtures, and a complementary fixture defining a plurality of voids within which the compressor blades are received when the complementary fixture is mounted to the mounting plate such that less powder is required to fill the powder bed.

Techniques for using a pin array to support a 3D printed object during sintering are disclosed. An example method includes adjusting pins of a pin array to provide support for a bottom surface of the 3D printed object, and placing the 3D printed object on the pin array. The method also includes placing the 3D printed object and pin array in a sintering oven, and heating the 3D printed object in the sintering oven to sinter the 3D printed object while being supported by the pin array.

A method is provided of sintering a green object body to form a manufactured object. The method comprises providing a green object body. The green object body comprises granular construction material bound together by a binder. The method comprises providing a green support body for supporting the green object body. The green support body comprises granular construction material bound together by a binder. The method comprises supporting the green object body with the green support body. The method comprises sintering the green support body together with the green object body supported by the green support body. A method of manufacturing an object, a method of processing object data, a data carrier carrying program instructions and an object data processor are also provided.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium-based alloy, wherein the method includes the heat treatment of the preform in a furnace at a predetermined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment, wherein the holder includes a zirconium-based alloy having a zirconium content greater than or equal to 95% by weight, wherein the holder material has a melting temperature higher than the predefined temperature of the heat treatment, and wherein an anti-diffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder in order to prevent welding of the preform to the holder.

A method for heat treating a powder part preform including a titanium-based alloy, wherein the method includes the heat treatment of the preform in a furnace at a predetermined temperature, wherein the preform is on a holder during the heat treatment, wherein the holder includes a zirconium-based alloy having a zirconium content greater than or equal to 95% by weight, wherein the holder material has a melting temperature higher than the predefined temperature of the heat treatment, and wherein an anti-diffusion barrier is arranged between the preform and the holder in order to prevent welding of the preform to the holder.

The invention relates to a build chamber (1) for an additive manufacturing apparatus (100) for forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer from a powder. The build chamber (1) comprising a build chamber base body (2) and the build chamber base body (2) is formed by at least two segments (4) telescopically coupled together. Associated with the telescopically coupled segments are one or more bellows assemblies, further coupled to support structure configured to raise and/or lower the build table. An associated method is also provided.

An additive manufacturing machine for repairing a component includes a build platform that supports the component and a powder dispensing assembly for selectively depositing additive powder over the build platform. A powder seal assembly includes a powder support plate positioned above the build platform and defining an aperture for receiving the component without contacting the component. An inflatable sealing element is operably coupled to the powder support plate around the aperture and is inflated to contact and seal against the component, thereby forming a support surface above the build platform upon which additive powder may be deposited.