The additive fabrication processing method includes: a setting step of setting a speed command value indicating the speed of a processing head, and a metal powder supply amount command value indicating a supply amount of the metal powder corresponding to the speed command value; an acquisition step of acquiring both a speed indicating the speed of the processing head at which actually moving and an actual distance indicating a distance actually between the processing head and a surface on which spraying metal powder; and a supply amount calculation step of calculating a metal powder supply amount by correcting the metal powder supply amount command value based on the speed and the actual distance, so that a program command route and a processed surface match.

A method for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The apparatus used in the method includes a build unit and a machining mechanism that are attached to a positioning mechanism, a rotating platform, and a rotary encoder attached to the rotating platform. The method involves rotating the build platform; determining the rotational speed; growing the object and the build wall through repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) over and substantially parallel to multiple build areas within the build platform to deposit a layer of powder at each build area, leveling the powder, and irradiating the powder to form a fused additive layer at each build area; machining the object being manufactured; and cutting and removing the build wall. The irradiation parameters are calibrated based on the determined rotational speed.

In order to provide the method for manufacturing the three-dimensional shaped object which is capable of preventing the occurrence of the raised portion at the sintered portion or the melted and subsequently solidified portion by the irradiation of the light beam, there is provided a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object by alternate repetition of a step (i) forming a powder-layer and a step (ii) forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of the powder layer with a light beam, wherein the light beam-irradiated portion is vibrated in the step (ii).

An example three-dimensional printer includes a print agent distributor to provide a printing agent to a print bed of powdered build material, a heat source to apply heat over the print bed to form a printed part where printing agent is applied, a heat sensor to measure a temperature of the printed part after heat has been applied, and a processor coupled to the heat sensor. The processor is to determine a target power to be applied to the heat source heat a part to a target temperature in a subsequent printing process. The processor is to determine the target power based on the target temperature, a measured first temperature of a first printed part formed when a first power is applied to the heat source and a measured second temperature of a second printed part formed when a second, different power is applied to the heat source.

An example three-dimensional printer includes a print agent distributor to provide a printing agent to a print bed of powdered build material, a heat source to apply heat over the print bed to form a printed part where printing agent is applied, a heat sensor to measure a temperature of the printed part after heat has been applied, and a processor coupled to the heat sensor. The processor is to determine a target power to be applied to the heat source heat a part to a target temperature in a subsequent printing process. The processor is to determine the target power based on the target temperature, a measured first temperature of a first printed part formed when a first power is applied to the heat source and a measured second temperature of a second printed part formed when a second, different power is applied to the heat source.

A method of installing a fixture or bracket in a fuselage structure of an aircraft or spacecraft. The method includes arranging an apparatus in, on or adjacent the structure, pre-treating a surface region of the structure by heat ablation using the apparatus and forming the fixture in situ on the structure at the pre-treated surface region using the apparatus based on a digital model of the fixture. The fixture is installed by connecting the fixture to the structure at the pre-treated surface region as the fixture is formed.

Method for calibrating at least one apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam that can be generated via an irradiation element of an irradiation device (7) of the apparatus (1), wherein a determination unit (2) is provided for determining at least one parameter of radiation (3) inside a process chamber (5), wherein a calibration beam source (4) is arranged or generated inside the process chamber (5) of the apparatus (1), in particular in a build plane (9) or a region above the build plane (9), wherein at least one parameter, in particular the intensity, of radiation (3) emitted by the calibration beam source (4) is determined via the determination unit (2).

Disclosed is an apparatus for and method of determining spreading behavior of a powder material during an additive manufacturing process. The method deposits a powder mound, moves a spreader to distribute a layer of powder over a build supported on a build area, operates an energy source to cast intercept the powder mound in the path of the source and onto an optical sensor during displacement of the powder mound, and analyzes an output of the optical sensor to identify features relating to the spreading behavior of the powder.

A manufacturing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a housing, a sensor within the housing, a coater, a removable powder module (RPM) with a platen, a laser system, and a controller. A method of operating the manufacturing system includes installing the RPM into the housing, forming pillars onto the platen, positioning the top surfaces of the pillars a distance D below a build plane, installing a calibration plate onto the top surfaces of the pillars, and then calibrating the laser system using the sensor. The sensor can include one or more of an optical sensor and an acoustic sensor.

A manufacturing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a housing, a sensor within the housing, a coater, a removable powder module (RPM) with a platen, a laser system, and a controller. A method of operating the manufacturing system includes installing the RPM into the housing, forming pillars onto the platen, positioning the top surfaces of the pillars a distance D below a build plane, installing a calibration plate onto the top surfaces of the pillars, and then calibrating the laser system using the sensor. The sensor can include one or more of an optical sensor and an acoustic sensor.