A large area sintering platform, system, and methodology. The system includes a convection oven with a projection window disposed within a top surface of the oven. A platform is disposed within the oven below the window at a spaced distance away from the window. A powder is positioned on top of the platform, with a thermocouple positioned within the powder on the platform. A high intensity projector moves in sync with the platform, and uses low intensities and long exposure times to project an image through the window onto the powder and sinter the powder to fabricate the desired model layer by layer.

In example implementations, a minor assembly for a three dimensional printer is provided. The minor assembly includes a first side and a second side. The first side is symmetrical to the second side and enclose a cylindrical light source. The first side and the second side each include a first curved reflective surface and a second curved reflective surface. An end of the first curved reflective surface and a beginning of the second curved reflective surface form an edge along a surface formed by the first curved reflective surface and the second curved reflective surface.

The present disclosure provides a printer system based on high power, high brightness visible laser source for improved resolution and printing speeds. Visible laser devices based on high power visible laser diodes can be scaled using the stimulated Raman scattering process to create a high power, high brightness visible laser source.

A machine tool arranged to deliver an energy source through a processing head onto a work-piece, wherein; the machine-tool has a clamping mechanism arranged to temporarily receive the processing-head, or another machining or processing-head, to process a work-piece; the processing-head comprising one or more guiding mechanisms arranged to direct the energy source onto a work-piece and a processing-head docking-manifold arranged to have connected thereto one or more media to be, in use, supplied to the processing-head to facilitate processing of the work-piece; wherein the processing-head docking-manifold allows the one or more media to be supplied to the processing-head when the processing-head is connected to the clamping mechanism; and wherein the machine-tool also comprises at least one mechanism arranged to move a supply docking-manifold into and/or out of connection with the processing-head docking-manifold such that when the two manifolds are connected the or each media is supplied to the processing head.

A machine tool arranged to deliver an energy source through a processing head onto a work-piece, wherein; the machine-tool has a clamping mechanism arranged to temporarily receive the processing-head, or another machining or processing-head, to process a work-piece; the processing-head comprising one or more guiding mechanisms arranged to direct the energy source onto a work-piece and a processing-head docking-manifold arranged to have connected thereto one or more media to be, in use, supplied to the processing-head to facilitate processing of the work-piece; wherein the processing-head docking-manifold allows the one or more media to be supplied to the processing-head when the processing-head is connected to the clamping mechanism; and wherein the machine-tool also comprises at least one mechanism arranged to move a supply docking-manifold into and/or out of connection with the processing-head docking-manifold such that when the two manifolds are connected the or each media is supplied to the processing head.

This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.

This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.

Embodiments of the systems can be configured to receive electromagnetic emissions of a substrate (e.g., a build material of a part being made via additive manufacturing) by a detector (e.g., a multi-spectral sensor) and generate a ratio of the electromagnetic emissions to perform spectral analysis with a reduced dependence on location and orientation of a surface of the substrate relative to the multi-spectral sensor. The additive manufacturing process can involve use of a laser to generate a laser beam for fusion of the build material into the part. The system can be configured to set the multi-spectral sensor off-axis with respect to the laser (e.g., an optical path of the multi-spectral sensor is at an angle that is different than the angle of incidence of the laser beam). This can allow the multi-spectral sensor to collect spectral data simultaneously as the laser is used to build the part.

Embodiments of the systems can be configured to receive electromagnetic emissions of a substrate (e.g., a build material of a part being made via additive manufacturing) by a detector (e.g., a multi-spectral sensor) and generate a ratio of the electromagnetic emissions to perform spectral analysis with a reduced dependence on location and orientation of a surface of the substrate relative to the multi-spectral sensor. The additive manufacturing process can involve use of a laser to generate a laser beam for fusion of the build material into the part. The system can be configured to set the multi-spectral sensor off-axis with respect to the laser (e.g., an optical path of the multi-spectral sensor is at an angle that is different than the angle of incidence of the laser beam). This can allow the multi-spectral sensor to collect spectral data simultaneously as the laser is used to build the part.

Device for the additive production of three-dimensional components (2), namely a laser melting device or laser sintering device, in which a component (2) is produced by successive solidifying of individual layers (3) made from solidifiable construction material, by the effect of radiation (4), through melting of the construction material (5), wherein the dimensions and/or temperature of the melt area (6) generated by a point-shaped or line-shaped energy input can be captured by a sensor device (8) of a process monitoring system, and sensor values for evaluation of a component quality can be deduced therefrom, wherein the radiation (9) created by the melt area and used for the generation of the sensor values passes through the scanner used for the melt energy input, and is guided from there to the sensor device (8) of the process monitoring system, wherein an optical focus tracking device (20) is arranged in the radiation path used for generation of the sensor values between the scanner (10) and the sensor device (8) of the process monitoring system, which optical focus tracking device can be controlled by electronic machine data for focus tracking.