This invention is directed to a method of efficiently improving a relative density of a shaped object using an evaluation criterion having a higher correlation with a density of an object to be shaped. The method according to this invention includes acquiring three-dimensional point group data of a surface of a shaping object, calculating at least one of three-dimensional surface texture parameters extended to a plane region using the three-dimensional point group data, and evaluating a quality of the object to be shaped using the at least one of the three-dimensional surface texture parameters.

This invention is directed to a method of efficiently improving a relative density of a shaped object using an evaluation criterion having a higher correlation with a density of an object to be shaped. The method according to this invention includes acquiring three-dimensional point group data of a surface of a shaping object, calculating at least one of three-dimensional surface texture parameters extended to a plane region using the three-dimensional point group data, and evaluating a quality of the object to be shaped using the at least one of the three-dimensional surface texture parameters.

An apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from particulate material, the apparatus comprising: a work space (100) bounded by a first side wall (100A) on a first side of the work space, and a second side wall (100B) on a second side of the work space, the first side wall opposing the second side wall; a build bed (170) having a build bed surface (160), the build bed surface being comprised in the floor of the work space and having a first edge (160′) on the first side of the work space, towards the first side wall, and a second edge (160″) on the second side of the work space, towards the second side wall; a first gas inlet (101A) at or near the first side wall; a second gas inlet (101B) at or near the second side wall; a first gas outlet (102A) above the floor (100C) of the work space, the position of the first gas outlet being coincident with the first edge of the build bed surface, or between the first edge of the build bed surface and the first gas inlet; and a second gas outlet (102B) above the floor of the work space, the position of the second gas outlet being coincident with the second edge of the build bed surface, or between the second edge of the build bed surface and the second gas inlet; wherein the first gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the first gas inlet, and the second gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the second gas inlet; and wherein one or more flow devices (210, 211, 212) are operable to create first and second gas flows between the first gas inlet and the first gas outlet, and between the second gas inlet and the second gas outlet, respectively, such as to create respective first and second gas curtains on the first and second sides of the work space in use.

The invention relates to a material feeding device. The material feeding device according to the invention to be used in a material processing device has a material feeding channel with an output end facing a processing site during operation of the material feeding device, and is characterized in that the material feeding device has at least one microchannel.

The invention relates to a material feeding device. The material feeding device according to the invention to be used in a material processing device has a material feeding channel with an output end facing a processing site during operation of the material feeding device, and is characterized in that the material feeding device has at least one microchannel.

Embodiments relate to in-situ process monitoring of a part being made via additive manufacturing. The process can involve capturing computed tomography (CT) scans of a post-built part. A neural network (NN) can be used during the build of a new part to process multi-modal sensor data. Spatial and temporal registration techniques can be used to align the data to x,y,z coordinates on the build plate. During the build of the part, the multi-modal sensor data can be superimposed on the build plate. Machine learning can be used to train the NN to correlate the sensor data to a defect label or a non-defect label by looking to certain patterns in the sensor data at the x,y,z location to identify a defect in the CT scan at x,y,z. The NN can then be used to predict where defects are or will occur during an actual build of a part.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacture of a dental implant for a molar, including acquiring, structural data corresponding to bones of the facial skeleton, the bones of the facial skeleton being proximate the molar, selecting, as a dental implant fixation surface, a surface of the bones based upon a determined thickness of the bones, generating, based on the selected dental implant fixation surface, a contoured surface of the dental implant, and fabricating, based upon an instruction transmitted by processing circuitry, a bone plate extending from a buccal end of a cylindrical plate of the dental implant, the cylindrical plate having support lattices extending therefrom, at least one support lattice of the support lattices being arranged on a lingual end of the cylindrical plate, the cylindrical plate having an opening in a central region thereof, the opening being configured to receive a dental post.

A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed comprising: providing a model of the three dimensional article, applying a first powder layer on a work table, directing an energy beam over the work table causing the first powder layer to fuse in selected locations according to the model to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article, applying a second powder layer on the work table, directing the energy beam over the work table causing the second powder layer to fuse in selected locations according to the model to form a second cross section of the three-dimensional article, wherein the second layer is bonded to the first layer, detecting a local thickness in at least two positions in at least the second powder layer, varying an energy beam parameter depending on the detected local thickness of the second powder layer.

Selective laser solidification apparatus is described that includes a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited and a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction. A laser scanning unit is provided for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form a required pattern. The required pattern is formed from a plurality of stripes or stripe segments that are formed by advancing the laser beam along the stripe or stripe segment in a stripe formation direction. The stripe formation direction is arranged so that it always at least partially opposes the predefined gas flow direction. A corresponding method is also described.

An additively manufactured assembly including an additively manufactured component with an edge oriented with respect to a recoater blade direction and an non-contact support that does not form a part of the additively manufactured component, the additively manufactured support located adjacent the edge. A method of additively manufacturing a component includes additively manufacturing an component with an edge oriented with respect to a recoater blade direction simultaneous with additively manufacturing an non-contact support that does not form a part of the component, the additively manufactured support located adjacent the edge.