A manipulator device such as a robot arm that is capable of increasing manufacturing throughput for additively manufactured parts, and allows for the manipulation of parts that would be difficult or impossible for a human to move is described. The manipulator can grasp various permanent or temporary additively manufactured manipulation points on a part to enable repositioning or maneuvering of the part.

A manipulator device such as a robot arm that is capable of increasing manufacturing throughput for additively manufactured parts, and allows for the manipulation of parts that would be difficult or impossible for a human to move is described. The manipulator can grasp various permanent or temporary additively manufactured manipulation points on a part to enable repositioning or maneuvering of the part.

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a part comprising a formation of successive solid metal layers (201 . . . 20n) that are stacked on top of one another, each layer describing a pattern defined using a numerical model (M), each layer being formed by the deposition of a metal (25), referred to as solder, the solder being subjected to an input of energy so as to start to melt and to constitute, by solidifying, said layer, wherein the solder takes the form of a powder (25), the exposure of which to an energy beam (32) results in melting followed by solidification so as to form a solid layer (201 . . . 20n). The process is characterized in that the solder (25) is an aluminum alloy comprising at least the following alloy elements: —Fe, in a weight fraction of from 1 to 3.7%, preferably from 1 to 3.6%; —Zr and/or Hf and/or Er and/or Sc and/or Ti, in a weight fraction of from 0.5 to 4%, preferably from 1 to 4%, more preferably from 1.5 to 3.5%, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2% each, and in a weight fraction of less than or equal to 4%, preferably less than or equal to 3%, more preferably less than or equal to 2% in total; —Si, in a weight fraction of from 0 to 4%, preferably from 0.5 to 3%; —V, in a weight fraction of from 0 to 4%, preferably from 0.5 to 3%. The invention also relates to a part obtained by this process. The alloy used in the additive manufacturing process according to the invention makes it possible to obtain parts having remarkable features.

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a part comprising a formation of successive solid metal layers (201 . . . 20n) that are stacked on top of one another, each layer describing a pattern defined using a numerical model (M), each layer being formed by the deposition of a metal (25), referred to as solder, the solder being subjected to an input of energy so as to start to melt and to constitute, by solidifying, said layer, wherein the solder takes the form of a powder (25), the exposure of which to an energy beam (32) results in melting followed by solidification so as to form a solid layer (201 . . . 20n). The process is characterized in that the solder (25) is an aluminum alloy comprising at least the following alloy elements: —Fe, in a weight fraction of from 1 to 3.7%, preferably from 1 to 3.6%; —Zr and/or Hf and/or Er and/or Sc and/or Ti, in a weight fraction of from 0.5 to 4%, preferably from 1 to 4%, more preferably from 1.5 to 3.5%, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2% each, and in a weight fraction of less than or equal to 4%, preferably less than or equal to 3%, more preferably less than or equal to 2% in total; —Si, in a weight fraction of from 0 to 4%, preferably from 0.5 to 3%; —V, in a weight fraction of from 0 to 4%, preferably from 0.5 to 3%. The invention also relates to a part obtained by this process. The alloy used in the additive manufacturing process according to the invention makes it possible to obtain parts having remarkable features.

Systems and methods in which a material or materials (e.g., a viscous material) are printed or otherwise transferred onto an intermediate substrate at a printing unit(s). The intermediate substrate having an image of material printed thereon is subsequently transferred to a sample building unit, and the image of material is transferred from the intermediate substrate to a sample at the sample building unit. Optionally, the printing unit(s) includes a coating system that creates a uniform layer of the material on a donor substrate, and the material is transferred from the donor substrate onto the intermediate substrate at the printing unit(s). Each of the printing units may employ a variety of printing or other transfer technologies. The system may also include material curing, heating, sintering, ablating, material filling, imaging and cleaning units to aid in the overall process.

A 3-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a part is provided. The system includes a building platform having a deposited pattern of metal powder, a sand dispensing nozzle selectively supplying sand to the building platform, a binder dispensing nozzle selectively supplying binder material to the building platform, a robotic arm supporting one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, the robotic arm moving the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, and a processor controlling the robotic arm to position the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle relative to the deposited pattern of metal powder and control the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle to supply powdered sand and binder, respectively, based on a Computer Aided Drafting file associated with the part.

A 3-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a part is provided. The system includes a building platform having a deposited pattern of metal powder, a sand dispensing nozzle selectively supplying sand to the building platform, a binder dispensing nozzle selectively supplying binder material to the building platform, a robotic arm supporting one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, the robotic arm moving the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, and a processor controlling the robotic arm to position the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle relative to the deposited pattern of metal powder and control the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle to supply powdered sand and binder, respectively, based on a Computer Aided Drafting file associated with the part.

A 3-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a part is provided. The system includes a building platform having a deposited pattern of metal powder, a sand dispensing nozzle selectively supplying sand to the building platform, a binder dispensing nozzle selectively supplying binder material to the building platform, a robotic arm supporting one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, the robotic arm moving the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle, and a processor controlling the robotic arm to position the one or more of the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle relative to the deposited pattern of metal powder and control the sand dispensing nozzle and the binder dispensing nozzle to supply powdered sand and binder, respectively, based on a Computer Aided Drafting file associated with the part.

An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a laser beam source emitting a laser beam, a build platform, a powder source depositing a layer of powder onto the build platform, and a scanning assembly disposed along an optical path between the laser beam source and the build platform. The scanning assembly comprises at least one solid state optical deflector that modifies at least one of a size or an impingement location of the laser beam on the layer of powder at a scanning position of the laser beam. The at least one solid state optical deflector may be used to heat treat the layer of powder either before or after the powder is melted.

An additive manufacturing machine is provided. The additive manufacturing machine includes a build unit including a powder dispenser assembly defining a powder reservoir that receives additive powder; a dosing rate measurement device in communication with the powder dispenser assembly, wherein the dosing rate measurement device measures a dosing rate of the additive powder in-situ; and a controllable device operably coupled to the build unit and including one or more processors configured to execute a program to cause the controllable device to adjust the dosing rate of the additive powder based on the dosing rate measured by the dosing rate measurement device.