A de-powdering basket comprises an enclosure of at least one side wall and a bottom wall. The enclosure is configured such that, when the enclosure is disposed within a build box, the outer surfaces of the at least one side wall are substantially adjacent to the interior walls of the build box. The enclosure further comprises one or more apertures disposed within the at least one side wall, each of the apertures comprising a void that extends through the at least one side wall from an interior surface of the side wall to an exterior surface of the side wall. The enclosure may be configured to accommodate a build plate situated within the enclosure. Outer edges of the build plate may cooperate with inner surfaces of the side walls of the enclosure to prevent loose powder from passing between the outer edges of the build plate and the side walls.

An electron beam melting machine and a method of operation are provided which maintains constant energy absorption within a build layer by adjusting an incident energy level to compensate for energy not absorbed by the additive powder. This unabsorbed energy is detected in the form of electron emissions, which include secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, and/or electrons which are transmitted through the build platform.

Certain examples relate to a build material management system to transport build material from a collection to source to one of a plurality of storage tanks. The storage tank is determined by a controller that compares color of the build material measured by a color sensor with predetermined values. The controller routes the build material to the storage tank.

A build plate-clamping assembly may include a work station having a build plate-receiving surface and a lock-pin extending from the build plate-receiving surface of the work station. The lock-pin may include a hollow pin body, a piston disposed within the hollow pin body, with the piston axially movable from a retracted position to an actuated position, and a plurality of detents, with the plurality of detents radially extensible through respective ones of a plurality of detent-apertures in the hollow pin body responsive to the piston having been axially moved to the actuated position. A methods of working on workpieces may include lockingly engaging a build plate at a first work station, performing a first work-step, releasing the build plate from the first work station, lockingly engaging the build plate at a second work station, and performing a second work-step. An additive manufacturing system may include a vision system with a first build plate-receiving surface and an additive manufacturing machine with a second build plate-receiving surface.

A printer is described that comprises a print chamber and an electromagnet moveable within the print chamber. The electromagnet has an on state and an off state. The electromagnet is to collect magnetic powder within the print chamber when in the on state, and to deposit magnetic powder when in the off state.

A printer is described that comprises a print chamber and an electromagnet moveable within the print chamber. The electromagnet has an on state and an off state. The electromagnet is to collect magnetic powder within the print chamber when in the on state, and to deposit magnetic powder when in the off state.

Disclosed is a switching system for a facility for 3D printing by spraying at least a first powder, including a body defining: at least one first upstream gas conduit configured to receive a gas; at least one first upstream powder conduit configured to receive the first powder; at least one first downstream discharge conduit for discharging the first powder; and a downstream work conduit configured in order to supply a nozzle designed for depositing at least the first powder. The system further includes a distributor that is movable with respect to the body, preferably in rotation about an axis, between a rest position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the first downstream discharge conduit, and at least a first supply position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the downstream work conduit.

Disclosed is a switching system for a facility for 3D printing by spraying at least a first powder, including a body defining: at least one first upstream gas conduit configured to receive a gas; at least one first upstream powder conduit configured to receive the first powder; at least one first downstream discharge conduit for discharging the first powder; and a downstream work conduit configured in order to supply a nozzle designed for depositing at least the first powder. The system further includes a distributor that is movable with respect to the body, preferably in rotation about an axis, between a rest position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the first downstream discharge conduit, and at least a first supply position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the downstream work conduit.

Disclosed is a switching system for a facility for 3D printing by spraying at least a first powder, including a body defining: at least one first upstream gas conduit configured to receive a gas; at least one first upstream powder conduit configured to receive the first powder; at least one first downstream discharge conduit for discharging the first powder; and a downstream work conduit configured in order to supply a nozzle designed for depositing at least the first powder. The system further includes a distributor that is movable with respect to the body, preferably in rotation about an axis, between a rest position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the first downstream discharge conduit, and at least a first supply position, in which the first upstream powder conduit is fluidly connected, via the distributor, to the downstream work conduit.

A connection point for a feeding station and/or an emptying station for powdered building material of a building station, unpacking station and/or sieve station which can be combined to form an installation for producing three-dimensional components by layer-by-layer solidification by means of a beam acting on the powdered building material, having a docking port which has a free connection side, having a closure member which opens and closes a passage in the docking port, having a connection port of a connecting device, which connection port can be connected to the docking port and, opposite the connection port, receives a cartridge container, having a closure member which is provided on the connection port and opens and closes a passage of the connection port, wherein, after the connection port has been connected to the docking port, the closure member in the connection port and the closure member in the docking port form a lock for the powdered building material in the feeding station for feeding and in the emptying station for discharging powdered building material.