A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus includes a flattening member and a rotation drive unit. The flattening member moves on layers of a fabrication material to flatten an upper surface of the layers of the fabrication material. The rotation drive unit rotates the flattening member and determines a circumferential position of the flattening member.

An additive manufacturing system is provided. The additive manufacturing system includes a build platform and at least one workstation. The build platform defines a continuous workflow path and is configured to rotate about a build platform axis. The workstation is spaced apart from the build platform along the third direction and at least one of the build platform and the workstation is configured to move along the third direction. The workstation includes at least one particle delivery device, at least one recoating device, and at least one consolidation device. The particle delivery device is configured to deposit particles on the build platform. The recoating device is configured to distribute the deposited particles to form a build layer on the build platform. The consolidation device is configured to consolidate at least a portion of the build layer.

A method and apparatus for depositing metals and metal-like substances in two and three dimensional form without a substrate in a safe, rapid and economical fashion using gas shielded arc welding equipment and programmable robotic motion. The method and apparatus includes the use and application of robotic controls, temperature and position feedback, single and multiple material feeds, and semi liquid deposition thereby creating near net shape parts particularly well suited to rapid prototyping and lower volume production

A system and method for vaporizing space debris in space. The system includes a spacecraft body, a primary solar concentrator mounted to the spacecraft body that collects and focuses solar flux from the sun, and a secondary solar concentrator positioned at a focal point of the primary solar concentrator that refocuses the focused solar flux. A manipulator arm coupled to the spacecraft body grabs the space debris in space and positions it at a location where the refocused solar flux vaporizes the debris. The secondary solar concentrator can be a point-source concentrator, the primary solar concentrator can be a parabolic mirror, a Fresnel lens or a light focusing element or assembly, and the space debris can be a retired spacecraft or launch vehicle upper stage or component.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising: a working area onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; a powder distribution member, a pivoted powder pushing device for bringing a portion of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area, said distribution member further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area, wherein a first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device is movable under said distribution member. An associated method and computer program product are also provided.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising: a working area onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; a powder distribution member, a pivoted powder pushing device for bringing a portion of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area, said distribution member further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area, wherein a first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device is movable under said distribution member. An associated method and computer program product are also provided.

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.

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.