An apparatus for the manufacture of an object, the apparatus having a print bed, a stencil, a heater arranged to heat the stencil, and a squeegee. The stencil comprises one or more apertures and is positionable over the print bed. The squeegee is movable to spread a printing material across the stencil and to thereby force printing material through the stencil aperture(s). One or both of the stencil and the print bed is movable to adjust the spacing between the stencil and the print bed.

A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an Al—Ce alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

A reactive matrix infiltration process is described herein, which includes contacting a surface of a preform comprising reinforcement material particles with a molten infiltrant comprising a matrix material, the matrix material comprising an Al—Ce alloy, whereby the infiltrant at least partially fills spaces between the reinforcement material particles by capillary action and reacts with the reinforcement material particles to form a composite material form, the composite material comprising the matrix material, at least one intermetallic phase, and, optionally, reinforcement material particles. A composite material form also is described, which includes a plurality of reinforcement material particles comprising a metal alloy or a ceramic, a matrix material at least partially filling spaces between the reinforcement material particles; and at least one intermetallic phase surrounding at least some of the reinforcement material particles. The reinforcement material particles and intermetallic phase together may form a gradient core-shell structure.

A method, of manufacturing a series of objects is disclosed. In the method, a layer of a manufacturing medium is provided. Portions of the layer of the medium, are bond together at at least edge regions of the layer to form a support portion. The support portion is lowered while gripping the support portion by the edge regions of the layer. A further layer of the medium is provided supported by the support portion. Portions of the further layer of the medium are selectively bound to form at least an object portion. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

A chamber component for a processing chamber is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a chamber component for a processing chamber includes a component part body having unitary monolithic construction. The component part body has a textured surface. The textured surface includes a plurality of independent engineered macro features integrally formed with the component part body. The engineered macro features include a macro feature body extending from the textured surface.

A chamber component for a processing chamber is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a chamber component for a processing chamber includes a component part body having unitary monolithic construction. The component part body has a textured surface. The textured surface includes a plurality of independent engineered macro features integrally formed with the component part body. The engineered macro features include a macro feature body extending from the textured surface.

A method is disclosed. The method involves establishing a number of times that a batch of build material has been processed as part of one or more additive manufacturing processes without forming part of a three-dimensional object formed during the one or more additive manufacturing processes. The method also involves determining, based on the established number of times, build parameters to be applied in respect of an additive manufacturing a batch of build material has process to be performed using the batch of build material to generate a three-been processed as part of one or dimensional object.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a motorized build platform, a material coating module, and a beam generation module. The beam generation module includes a laser beam formation unit, a scan module, and flat field focusing system. The laser beam formation unit includes a laser configured to output a laser beam. The scan module is configured to receive the laser beam and to scan the laser beam over a build plane that is above the motorized build platform. The flat field focusing system is configured to focus the laser beam across the laser beam and includes an input component and an output component. The input component is configured to receive the laser beam from the beam formation unit and to pass the laser beam to the scan module. The output component is configured to receive the laser beam from the scan module and pass the laser beam to the build plane.

A material for producing a three-dimensionally printed part including a metal material and at least one sintering aid in an amount effective to give the three-dimensionally printed part a density of between about 90% and about 100% after sintering is disclosed. A method of printing a three-dimensional part including selecting a metal material, incorporating at least one sintering aid into the metal material to form a print material, and printing the three-dimensional part is also disclosed. A method of producing a sintered metal part including providing a metal material for the sintered metal part incorporating boron as a first sintering aid, incorporating phosphorus as a second sintering aid, forming the metal part in a predetermined form the metal material, and heating the formed metal part to a sintering temperature is also disclosed. Three-dimensionally printed parts are also disclosed.

The invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for building up a workpiece layer by layer in the course of an additive manufacturing process, in particular in the form of a powder-bed process, wherein grains of a powder are fused to one another by using a binder, wherein the binder used is a heat-curable adhesive which is not applied selectively but layer by layer and which is activated and cured by a controlled energy source, in particular a laser with a controlled laser beam, and thereby fuses respectively adjacent grains of the powder.