An additive manufacturing system may include a powder delivery device configured to direct a powder stream toward a build surface of a component, and a powder flow monitoring system. The powder delivery device defines a longitudinal axis oriented toward the build surface. The powder flow monitoring system includes an illumination device configured to illuminate at least some powder the powder stream between the powder delivery device and the build surface; and an imaging device configured to image the illuminated powder at an image plane that intersects the longitudinal axis. The illumination device and the imaging device may be registered to the powder delivery device in a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

An additive manufacturing system includes a laser array including a plurality of laser devices. Each laser device of the plurality of laser devices generates an energy beam for forming a melt pool in a powder bed. The additive manufacturing system further includes at least one optical element. The optical element receives at least one of the energy beams and induces a predetermined power diffusion in the at least one energy beam.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: first and second spaced apart side walls extending along a pre-defined path and defining a build chamber therebetween; one or more build units mounted for movement along the pre-defined path, the one or more build units including at least one of: a powder dispenser positioned above the build chamber; an applicator configured to scrape powder dispensed into the build chamber; and a directed energy source configured to fuse the scraped powder.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: first and second spaced apart side walls extending along a pre-defined path and defining a build chamber therebetween; one or more build units mounted for movement along the pre-defined path, the one or more build units including at least one of: a powder dispenser positioned above the build chamber; an applicator configured to scrape powder dispensed into the build chamber; and a directed energy source configured to fuse the scraped powder.

This invention concerns a module for insertion into an additive manufacturing apparatus. The module comprising a frame mountable in a fixed position in the additive manufacturing apparatus, the frame defining a build chamber and a dosing chamber. A build platform is movable in the build chamber for supporting a powder bed during additive manufacturing of a part. A dosing piston is movable in the dosing chamber to push powder from the dosing chamber. A mechanism mechanically links the build platform to the dosing piston such that downward movement of the build platform in the build chamber results in upward movement of the dosing piston in the dosing chamber.

This invention concerns a module for insertion into an additive manufacturing apparatus. The module comprising a frame mountable in a fixed position in the additive manufacturing apparatus, the frame defining a build chamber and a dosing chamber. A build platform is movable in the build chamber for supporting a powder bed during additive manufacturing of a part. A dosing piston is movable in the dosing chamber to push powder from the dosing chamber. A mechanism mechanically links the build platform to the dosing piston such that downward movement of the build platform in the build chamber results in upward movement of the dosing piston in the dosing chamber.

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 three-dimensional additive manufacturing device manufactures a layered structure by supplying powder for manufacturing the layered structure while changing the positional relationship between a discharge port from which the powder is discharged and the layered structure. The three-dimensional additive manufacturing device includes: a powder supply unit that supplies powder from the discharge port toward the layered structure; a light irradiation unit that irradiates the powder with a light beam to melt and harden the powder to thereby manufacture the layered structure; an imaging unit that captures an image of the manufacturing site where the layered structure is being manufactured; a distance detector that detects a distance from the manufacturing site to the powder supply unit on the basis of the image; and a feedback controller that adjusts a moving speed of the powder supply unit relative to the layered structure on the basis of a detection result of the distance.

A body, a table that is located on the body and allows powders to be laid thereon by a laying apparatus is disclosed. A layer is created by sintering or fusing the powders laid on the table, a part (P) that is produced by depositing the layers on top of each other using additive manufacturing method, and at least one heat source is located on the body and applies heat treatment to the powders laid on the table.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing system includes a print engine chassis, a build box, a vertical movement mechanism, a powder dispensing module, a consolidation module, and a controller. The print engine chassis defines a build chamber configured to receive and support the build box. The build box includes a build plate upon which the 3D article is fabricated. The vertical movement mechanism includes a plurality of actuators configured to collectively provide precise positioning of the build plate. The controller is configured to (1) operate the vertical movement mechanism including operating the plurality of actuators to position an upper surface of the 3D article generally proximate and parallel to a build plane, (2) operate the powder dispensing module to dispense a new layer of powder over the upper surface, and (3) operate the consolidation module to selectively consolidate the new layer of powder.