Closed-loop metal powder management methods for additive manufacturing. Virgin metal powder is provided in a closed powder container comprising at least one sensor, tracker, or optical device. The metal powder is transferred to an additive manufacturing system, a portion of a metal powder layer is consolidated, and excess metal powder is transferred from the additive manufacturing system to the powder container, a second powder container, or an internal powder container. Virgin metal powder or a second metal powder are added to the excess metal powder, a quality of the mixed powder is validated, the process is repeated at least once, and powder physical transfer data associated with at least one of the steps is collected and stored in a data repository. Powder material parameters may be measured and assessed, and may be also be stored in the data repository.

Closed-loop metal powder management methods for additive manufacturing. Virgin metal powder is provided in a closed powder container comprising at least one sensor, tracker, or optical device. The metal powder is transferred to an additive manufacturing system, a portion of a metal powder layer is consolidated, and excess metal powder is transferred from the additive manufacturing system to the powder container, a second powder container, or an internal powder container. Virgin metal powder or a second metal powder are added to the excess metal powder, a quality of the mixed powder is validated, the process is repeated at least once, and powder physical transfer data associated with at least one of the steps is collected and stored in a data repository. Powder material parameters may be measured and assessed, and may be also be stored in the data repository.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved chamber designs, multiple chambers, powder handling and re-use systems, and powder characterization methods are disclosed.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system is described. The system includes a reader to 1) read an identifier from a three-dimensional (3D) System printed object that includes a storage element and 2) read a location of the 3D printed object within a build material bed. An extractor of the system extracts, based on the identifier, a post processing operation to execute on the 3D printed object. A controller of the system controls a post processing operation based on extracted post processing operation information and the location.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system is described. The system includes a reader to 1) read an identifier from a three-dimensional (3D) System printed object that includes a storage element and 2) read a location of the 3D printed object within a build material bed. An extractor of the system extracts, based on the identifier, a post processing operation to execute on the 3D printed object. A controller of the system controls a post processing operation based on extracted post processing operation information and the location.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, an additive manufacturing system is described. The additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing device to form a three-dimensional (3D) printed object. A placement device is to embed a storage element into the 3D printed object and a controller is to write data to the embedded storage element that relates to manufacturing conditions of the 3D printed object.

A method for marking a printed object is disclosed. For example, the method includes printing a three-dimensional (3D) object via a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer, receiving a desired color marking to be marked on a surface of the 3D object, and controlling a point energy source to emit energy on a thermal treatment layer of the 3D object in accordance with the desired color marking.

A method for marking a printed object is disclosed. For example, the method includes printing a three-dimensional (3D) object via a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer, receiving a desired color marking to be marked on a surface of the 3D object, and controlling a point energy source to emit energy on a thermal treatment layer of the 3D object in accordance with the desired color marking.

A package comprising a carrier, an electronic component mounted on the carrier, and an identifier indicative of an origin of the package and being formed on and/or in the carrier is disclosed.