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.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include providing a powder bed and directing a shaped laser beam pulse train consisting of one or more pulses and having a flux greater than 20 kW/cm.sup.2 at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. This minimizes adverse laser plasma effects during the process of melting and fusing powder within the defined two dimensional region.

A method for laser additive manufacturing of a mechanical part includes providing a laser beam the operation of which will be controlled by a computer into which is introduced a CAD computer file which is cut into one or more strata which, once superimposed, allow to form the structure of the desired mechanical part, disposing a substrate in a manufacturing enclosure wherein an atmosphere of a neutral gas is created, depositing on the substrate at least a first layer of a powder of a first metallic material to be melted, levelling the first layer, subjecting by means of the laser beam the first layer to a selective melting step, if necessary, depositing on the substrate a second layer, levelling the second layer and subjecting this second layer to a step of selective melting, removing the excess material and cleaning the assembly and subjecting the part to finishing operations.

A method for laser additive manufacturing of a mechanical part includes providing a laser beam the operation of which will be controlled by a computer into which is introduced a CAD computer file which is cut into one or more strata which, once superimposed, allow to form the structure of the desired mechanical part, disposing a substrate in a manufacturing enclosure wherein an atmosphere of a neutral gas is created, depositing on the substrate at least a first layer of a powder of a first metallic material to be melted, levelling the first layer, subjecting by means of the laser beam the first layer to a selective melting step, if necessary, depositing on the substrate a second layer, levelling the second layer and subjecting this second layer to a step of selective melting, removing the excess material and cleaning the assembly and subjecting the part to finishing operations.

The present invention relates to a method for the additive manufacture of components (2), wherein a pulverulent or wire-shaped metal construction material is deposited on a platform (4) in layers, melted using a primary heating device (7), in particular using a laser or electron beam (14), and is heated using an induction heating device (8), which has an alternating voltage supply device (9) with an induction generator (16) and at least one induction coil (10) which can be moved above the platform (4). The induction generator (16) is controlled such that the induction generator is driven with a different output at different specified positions of the at least one induction coil (10). The invention additionally relates to a device, to a control method, and to a storage medium.

The present invention relates to a method for the additive manufacture of components (2), wherein a pulverulent or wire-shaped metal construction material is deposited on a platform (4) in layers, melted using a primary heating device (7), in particular using a laser or electron beam (14), and is heated using an induction heating device (8), which has an alternating voltage supply device (9) with an induction generator (16) and at least one induction coil (10) which can be moved above the platform (4). The induction generator (16) is controlled such that the induction generator is driven with a different output at different specified positions of the at least one induction coil (10). The invention additionally relates to a device, to a control method, and to a storage medium.

Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying selected areas of consecutive powder layers is provided. At least one electron beam successively irradiates predetermined sections of each powder layer by moving an interaction region in which the electron beam interacts with the powder layer. Electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source is directed onto the powder layer to reduce local electrostatic charging in the interaction region. In this way, levitation and scattering of charged powder will be avoided.

An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of layers of a powder material, which parts correspond to successive cross-sections of the three-dimensional article includes a process chamber housing enclosing a process chamber. A rotatable support conveyor is rotatably connected to a bottom of the process chamber housing by a rotatable shaft. The rotatable support conveyor includes an opening that extends therethrough for dispensing powder material from a powder storage vessel located on the rotatable support conveyor and a powder distributor that includes a rake portion that is located between the rotatable support conveyor and the bottom of the process chamber housing.

A method of applying a plurality of energy beams in the additive manufacture of a component includes a) providing a first and a second energy beam, each set up for the irradiation of a layer of a powder bed, wherein the first beam scans over a first irradiation area and the second beam scans over a second irradiation area, wherein the first and second irradiation areas are substantially arranged adjacent to each other and form part of a manufacturing plane, and b) assigning a scan vector to be scanned in the first irradiation area by the second energy beam, when a melt pool generated by the second energy beam during the scan of the vector is expected to cause less overlap with a powder bed outside of the component's geometry than a melt pool generated by the first energy beam would cause during the scan of the vector.