A laser-assisted microfluidics manufacturing process has been developed for the fabrication of additively manufactured structures. Roll-to-roll manufacturing is enhanced by the use of a laser-assisted electrospray printhead positioned above the flexible substrate. The laser electrospray printhead sprays microdroplets containing nanoparticles onto the substrate to form both thin-film and structural layers. As the substrate moves, the nanoparticles are sintered using a laser beam directed by the laser electrospray printhead onto the substrate.

A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.

A system and method of monitoring a powder-bed additive manufacturing process using a plurality of energy sources is provided. A layer of additive powder is deposited on a powder bed and is fused using a first energy source, a second energy source, or any other suitable number of energy sources. The electromagnetic energy emissions at a first melt pool are monitored by a melt pool monitoring system and recorded as raw emission signals. The melt pool monitoring system may also monitor emissions from the powder bed using off-axis sensors or from a second melt pool using on-axis sensors, and these emissions may be used to modify the raw emission signals to generate compensated emission signals. The compensated emission signals are analyzed to identify outlier emissions and an alert may be provided or a process adjustment may be made when outlier emissions exceed a predetermined signal threshold.

A method of processing by controlling one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam may include: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP and one or more confinement regions; modifying the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; confining the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam within the one or more confinement regions of the second length of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP may differ from the second RIP.

A High Energy Beam Processing (HEBP) system provides feedback signal monitoring and feedback control for the improvement of process repeatability and three-dimensional (3D) printed part quality. Signals reflecting process parameters and the quality of the fabricated parts are analyzed by monitoring feedback signals from artifact sources with a process controller which adjusts process parameters. In this manner, fabricated parts are produced more accurately and consistently from powder feedstock by compensating for process variation in response to feedback signals.

This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.

An electron beam source including a cathode, an anode, a means for deflecting an electron beam over a target surface and at least one vacuum pump, the electron beam source further including a contraction area arranged between the anode and the means for deflecting the electron beam where a hole in the contraction area is aligned with a hole in the anode with respect to the cathode, a first vacuum pump is arranged between the contraction area and the anode and a second vacuum pump is arranged above the anode, a gas inlet is provided between the contraction area and the means for deflecting the electron beam, wherein a first crossover of the electron beam is arranged between the cathode and the anode and a second crossover is arranged at or in close proximity to the contraction area.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a powder layer forming portion, an energy beam source, and a contact detection sensor including a plate-like probe. The powder layer forming portion is configured to form a powder layer in a predetermined region. The energy beam source is configured to radiate an energy beam to the powder layer formed by the powder layer forming portion to fuse or sinter the powder layer so that a solidified layer is formed. Presence or absence of a projection portion on a surface of the solidified layer is detected by using the contact detection sensor.

An additive manufacturing system having multiple components includes a high power laser to form a laser beam. A beam dump with a fluid chamber having at least one laser transparent window into which the laser beam is directed is provided. A heat exchanger is connected to the fluid chamber, with the heat exchanger acting to provide useful energy to at least one of the multiple components of the additive manufacturing system. An absorbing fluid can be circulated through both the fluid chamber and the heat exchanger.

Systems and methods for additive manufacturing systems implementing adaptive optics in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an additive manufacturing system including a laser source configured to form an output beam, a scanning mirror disposed in an optical path of the output beam, wherein the scanning mirror is configured to reflect and scan the output beam at a range of scan angles, a deformable mirror disposed in the optical path of the output beam, wherein the deformable mirror has a plurality of configurations for reflecting and altering a wavefront of the output beam, wherein the configuration of the deformable mirror is based on the scan angle of the scanning mirror, and a print bed configured to hold a print material, wherein the output beam is configured to fuse the print material to form a build object.