The present invention relates to a 3D-printed cobalt-based alloy product comprising carbon, tungsten and chromium with very good mechanical and thermal properties as well as a method of preparing the 3D-printed product and a powder alloy. The alloy has a high carbon content leading to high carbide content but small and evenly distributed carbides. A method facilitating 3D printing of high carbide content alloys such as the present alloy is also disclosed.

A 3D printer includes an ejector device comprising a substrate and a plurality of ejector conduits on the substrate, the ejector conduits being arranged in an array. Each ejector conduit includes: a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and a passageway for allowing the print material to flow from the first end to the second end, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the passageway and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the passageway. A current pulse generating system is in electrical connection with the first electrode and the second electrode of the plurality of ejector conduits. A magnetic field source is sufficiently proximate the second end of the plurality of ejector conduits so as to generate a flux region disposed within the ejector nozzle of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer. The 3D printer further comprises a positioning system for controlling the relative position of the ejector device with respect to a print substrate in a manner that would allow the print substrate to receive print material jettable from the ejector nozzle of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer.

A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer includes: a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end, the ejector nozzle comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one surface of the first electrode being exposed in the passageway and at least one surface of the second electrode being exposed in the passageway; a current pulse generating system in electrical contact with the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits; a magnetic field source sufficiently proximate the second end of the ejector conduit so as to generate a flux region disposed within the ejector nozzle during operation of the 3D printer; and a positioning system for controlling the relative position of the array with respect to a print substrate in a manner that would allow the print substrate to receive print material jettable from the ejector nozzle of each of the plurality of ejector conduits during operation of the 3D printer.

An additive manufacturing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a build platform, a scanning unit and a preheating arrangement. Material is operatively deposited on the build platform to form a material bed, with a surface of the material bed defining a material area. The scanning unit is configured to consolidate deposited material in a scan area on the surface of the material bed, wherein the scan area forms part of and is substantially smaller than the material area. The preheating arrangement is configured to focus energy onto the surface of the material bed substantially in the scan area and not in the remainder of the material area. A method of preheating material in an additive manufacturing apparatus, a method of forming an object by additive manufacturing and a preheating arrangement for an additive manufacturing apparatus are also disclosed.

Examples of a system for additive manufacturing are described. The system comprises a powder reservoir for storing the metal powder operatively coupled to a working chamber that includes a powder feeder with a housing that defines an inner cavity with an inlet and a number of nozzles in communication with the inner cavity of the powder feeder defining an outlet of the feeder. The number of nozzles are positioned around a center axis of a generated energy beam. A powder feeder's driver is configured to drive flow of the powder through the nozzles directly into a beam path such that an exact amount of the powder is placed into the beam path to be melted or sintered onto a powder bed.

Examples of a system for additive manufacturing are described. The system comprises a powder reservoir for storing the metal powder operatively coupled to a working chamber that includes a powder feeder with a housing that defines an inner cavity with an inlet and a number of nozzles in communication with the inner cavity of the powder feeder defining an outlet of the feeder. The number of nozzles are positioned around a center axis of a generated energy beam. A powder feeder's driver is configured to drive flow of the powder through the nozzles directly into a beam path such that an exact amount of the powder is placed into the beam path to be melted or sintered onto a powder bed.

Examples of a system for additive manufacturing are described. The system comprises a powder reservoir for storing the metal powder operatively coupled to a working chamber that includes a powder feeder with a housing that defines an inner cavity with an inlet and a number of nozzles in communication with the inner cavity of the powder feeder defining an outlet of the feeder. The number of nozzles are positioned around a center axis of a generated energy beam. A powder feeder's driver is configured to drive flow of the powder through the nozzles directly into a beam path such that an exact amount of the powder is placed into the beam path to be melted or sintered onto a powder bed.

Disclosed are a high-throughput preparation device for metal fiber based on multi powder and a method for preparing a metal fiber using the device. The high-throughput preparation device includes a metal powder conveying system, a metal powder mixing system, a metal powder melting system and a metal fiber forming system which are connected in sequence, where the metal powder melting system includes an induction powder melting device and a laser powder melting device which are independently disposed. The method for preparing a metal fiber using the high-throughput preparation device includes four steps: powder conveying, powder mixing, melting and forming.

A plasticization device includes: a rotor rotated by a drive motor and having a groove forming surface in which a first groove portion is formed along a rotation direction; a rotor case configured to accommodate the rotor; a barrel facing the groove forming surface and having a through hole; a first heating unit configured to heat the rotor or the barrel; and a cooling mechanism configured to cool a side surface of the rotor. In the plasticization device, a material supplied between the first groove portion and the barrel is plasticized by rotation of the rotor and heating by the first heating unit to flow out from the through hole, and the side surface of the rotor has a material guiding port configured to guide the material to the first groove portion, and a second groove portion configured to feed the material supplied between the rotor and the rotor case to the material guiding port.

A plasticization device includes: a rotor rotated by a drive motor and having a groove forming surface in which a first groove portion is formed along a rotation direction; a rotor case configured to accommodate the rotor; a barrel facing the groove forming surface and having a through hole; a first heating unit configured to heat the rotor or the barrel; and a cooling mechanism configured to cool a side surface of the rotor. In the plasticization device, a material supplied between the first groove portion and the barrel is plasticized by rotation of the rotor and heating by the first heating unit to flow out from the through hole, and the side surface of the rotor has a material guiding port configured to guide the material to the first groove portion, and a second groove portion configured to feed the material supplied between the rotor and the rotor case to the material guiding port.