An inspection system for in situ evaluation of an additive manufacturing (AM) build part is provided. The inspection system comprises a build plane induction coil sensor configured and positionable so that during construction of the build part, the sensor's magnetization and sensor coils surround at least the last-produced layer of the AM build part in the build plane. The inspection system further comprises an energization circuit and a central processing system. The central processing system comprises a communication processor configured for sending command signals to the energization circuit and receiving impedance data from the build plane induction coil sensor, and energization controller configured for determining energization commands for transmission to the energization circuit, and an induction data analyzer configured for processing build part impedance data using complex impedance plane analysis and for identifying anomalies in the AM build part.

A method for manufacturing a metal component includes the following steps: a shell made of a titanium-based material is provided, the shell having a first surface and a second surface remote from the first surface; a covering layer made of a titanium fire-resistant material is produced by additive manufacturing on the shell such that the covering layer at least partially covers the first surface and/or the second surface; and, after the additive manufacturing step, the metal component is heat treated at a temperature of between 200° C. and 1000° C.

A method for manufacturing a metal component includes the following steps: a shell made of a titanium-based material is provided, the shell having a first surface and a second surface remote from the first surface; a covering layer made of a titanium fire-resistant material is produced by additive manufacturing on the shell such that the covering layer at least partially covers the first surface and/or the second surface; and, after the additive manufacturing step, the metal component is heat treated at a temperature of between 200° C. and 1000° C.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

A production method for an alloy member having mainly high hardness and high resistance to corrosion and produced by an additive manufacturing method, the alloy member, and a product using the alloy member are provided. The production method for an alloy member includes: an additive manufacturing step of forming a shaped member through an additive manufacturing method using an alloy powder containing elements Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Ti each in a range of 5 atom% to 35 atom% and containing Mo in a range exceeding 0 atom% and 8 atom% or less, the remainder being unavoidable impurities; and a heat treatment step of holding the shaped member in a temperature range higher than 500° C. and lower than 900° C. directly after the additive manufacturing step without undergoing a step of holding the shaped member in a temperature range of 1080° C. to 1180° C.

A production method for an alloy member having mainly high hardness and high resistance to corrosion and produced by an additive manufacturing method, the alloy member, and a product using the alloy member are provided. The production method for an alloy member includes: an additive manufacturing step of forming a shaped member through an additive manufacturing method using an alloy powder containing elements Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Ti each in a range of 5 atom% to 35 atom% and containing Mo in a range exceeding 0 atom% and 8 atom% or less, the remainder being unavoidable impurities; and a heat treatment step of holding the shaped member in a temperature range higher than 500° C. and lower than 900° C. directly after the additive manufacturing step without undergoing a step of holding the shaped member in a temperature range of 1080° C. to 1180° C.

The invention relates to a metal powder intended for use in an additive manufacturing process, which consists of steel particles having an average diameter of 5-150 μm and consisting of, in mass %, C: 0.15-1.0%, N: 0.15-1.0%, Si, 0.1-2.0%, Mn: 10-25%, Cr: 5-21%, Mo: 0.1-3.0%, Ni: ≤5%, remainder of iron and unavoidable impurities. The metal powder has a flow rate determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4490 of less than 30 sec/50 g. Using a metal powder according to the invention, reliable high-load-bearing components can be produced by additive manufacturing. Accordingly, a metal powder according to the invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of machine elements that are exposed to high loads and of medical components that are used in or on the human or animal body. The invention also provides a method which reliably allows components with optimised mechanical properties to be manufactured from metal powder according to the invention on the basis of an additive manufacturing process.

The invention relates to a metal powder intended for use in an additive manufacturing process, which consists of steel particles having an average diameter of 5-150 μm and consisting of, in mass %, C: 0.15-1.0%, N: 0.15-1.0%, Si, 0.1-2.0%, Mn: 10-25%, Cr: 5-21%, Mo: 0.1-3.0%, Ni: ≤5%, remainder of iron and unavoidable impurities. The metal powder has a flow rate determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4490 of less than 30 sec/50 g. Using a metal powder according to the invention, reliable high-load-bearing components can be produced by additive manufacturing. Accordingly, a metal powder according to the invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of machine elements that are exposed to high loads and of medical components that are used in or on the human or animal body. The invention also provides a method which reliably allows components with optimised mechanical properties to be manufactured from metal powder according to the invention on the basis of an additive manufacturing process.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing method and apparatus are disclosed for freeform fabrication of metal articles. 3D printed articles are formed from a build material comprising metal powder(s), polymer(s), and solvent(s). A coagulation agent, such as a nebulized non-solvent, is disposed onto/about the build material during 3D printing to cause at least partial solidification of the build material to form a green body structure. Multiple build materials can be mixed at a variable ratio to achieve a composition gradient through the green body structure. The 3D printed green body structure can be heated to remove some or all of the polymer, solvent, and/or for debinding. The debinded green body structure can be sintered at a specific sintering temperature or over a temperature gradient, for a period of time, in accordance with the sintering properties of the particular metal powder in the debinded green body structure, to form a finished metal part.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing method and apparatus are disclosed for freeform fabrication of metal articles. 3D printed articles are formed from a build material comprising metal powder(s), polymer(s), and solvent(s). A coagulation agent, such as a nebulized non-solvent, is disposed onto/about the build material during 3D printing to cause at least partial solidification of the build material to form a green body structure. Multiple build materials can be mixed at a variable ratio to achieve a composition gradient through the green body structure. The 3D printed green body structure can be heated to remove some or all of the polymer, solvent, and/or for debinding. The debinded green body structure can be sintered at a specific sintering temperature or over a temperature gradient, for a period of time, in accordance with the sintering properties of the particular metal powder in the debinded green body structure, to form a finished metal part.