A powder bed fusion system is provided. The system comprises a build area with a movable build plate. Two powder overflow and extraction (POE) chambers flank the build area on opposite sides. Two dispensing chambers flank the POE chambers, opposite the build area. Two reservoir chambers flank the dispensing chambers, opposite the POE chambers. A recoater device is configured to move build material from the dispensing chambers or reservoir chambers to the build area. An energy source is configured to generate an energy beam. An energy beam positioning device is configured to selectively direct the energy beam within the build area. A controller is programmed to control, according to a 3D model of a part, the energy source, energy beam positioning device, recoater device, build plate, and vertically movable plates within the POE chambers, dispensing chambers, and reservoir chambers.

A powder bed fusion system is provided. The system comprises a build area with a movable build plate. Two powder overflow and extraction (POE) chambers flank the build area on opposite sides. Two dispensing chambers flank the POE chambers, opposite the build area. Two reservoir chambers flank the dispensing chambers, opposite the POE chambers. A recoater device is configured to move build material from the dispensing chambers or reservoir chambers to the build area. An energy source is configured to generate an energy beam. An energy beam positioning device is configured to selectively direct the energy beam within the build area. A controller is programmed to control, according to a 3D model of a part, the energy source, energy beam positioning device, recoater device, build plate, and vertically movable plates within the POE chambers, dispensing chambers, and reservoir chambers.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a first metal powder supply step of supplying a first metal powder having a first average particle diameter to a shaping table, a layer formation step of forming the layer by compressing the first metal powder supplied to the shaping table, a first liquid supply step of supplying a first liquid containing a second metal powder having a second average particle diameter and a binder to a portion of a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a second liquid supply step of supplying a second liquid containing at least either the second meal powder at a lower concentration than the first liquid or a third metal powder having a larger average particle diameter than the second average particle diameter and containing a binder to at least a portion of a surface layer region, and a sintering step of sintering a metal in the constituent region by heating a stacked body.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a first metal powder supply step of supplying a first metal powder having a first average particle diameter to a shaping table, a layer formation step of forming the layer by compressing the first metal powder supplied to the shaping table, a first liquid supply step of supplying a first liquid containing a second metal powder having a second average particle diameter and a binder to a portion of a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a second liquid supply step of supplying a second liquid containing at least either the second meal powder at a lower concentration than the first liquid or a third metal powder having a larger average particle diameter than the second average particle diameter and containing a binder to at least a portion of a surface layer region, and a sintering step of sintering a metal in the constituent region by heating a stacked body.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method is a three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers and includes a first metal powder supply step of supplying a first metal powder having a first average particle diameter to a shaping table, a layer formation step of forming the layer by compressing the first metal powder supplied to the shaping table, a first liquid supply step of supplying a first liquid containing a second metal powder having a second average particle diameter and a binder to a portion of a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a second liquid supply step of supplying a second liquid containing at least either the second meal powder at a lower concentration than the first liquid or a third metal powder having a larger average particle diameter than the second average particle diameter and containing a binder to at least a portion of a surface layer region, and a sintering step of sintering a metal in the constituent region by heating a stacked body.

A galactic extrusion manufacturing (GEM) system for performing an extrusion process includes an extruder assembly for extruding building material during the extrusion process, and a connection system including a robotic arm-tether-crimper for attachment of the GEM system to space bound vehicles and/or structures in space or on orbit. The extrusion assembly includes an extruder head outfitted with multiple different heads for shaping the building material during the extrusion process, at least one power cartridge, and at least one building material cartridge containing the building material, wherein the power cartridge and the building material cartridge are removable and replaceable. Also provided are a building material cartridge for use with a GEM system or a dispensing control unit (DCU) to perform an extrusion process, and a smart extrusion system including a building material cartridge and a DCU.

A system for forming a product with different size particles is disclosed. The system comprises at least one print head region configured to retain a first group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a first portion of the product with a first material and a second group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a second portion of the product with a second material. The described system may also comprise a processor configured to regulate the first group of print heads and the second group of print heads to distribute the first material and the second material. A method of making an object by ink jet printing using the disclosed system is also disclosed.

A system for forming a product with different size particles is disclosed. The system comprises at least one print head region configured to retain a first group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a first portion of the product with a first material and a second group of print heads configurable to additively print at least a second portion of the product with a second material. The described system may also comprise a processor configured to regulate the first group of print heads and the second group of print heads to distribute the first material and the second material. A method of making an object by ink jet printing using the disclosed system is also disclosed.

A processing machine includes a splash guard that defines and forms a processing area, a tool spindle that is movable in a Z-axis direction and a Y-axis direction inside the processing area, an additive-manufacturing head connected to the tool spindle, and a line body that extends from the additive-manufacturing head, is drawn from an inside of the processing area to an outside, and supplies material powder and a laser beam to the additive-manufacturing head. A maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Y-axis direction is shorter than a maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Z-axis direction. A drawing direction of the line body from the inside to the outside of the processing area is a direction intersecting the Z-axis direction in top view.

A processing machine includes a splash guard that defines and forms a processing area, a tool spindle that is movable in a Z-axis direction and a Y-axis direction inside the processing area, an additive-manufacturing head connected to the tool spindle, and a line body that extends from the additive-manufacturing head, is drawn from an inside of the processing area to an outside, and supplies material powder and a laser beam to the additive-manufacturing head. A maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Y-axis direction is shorter than a maximum movement amount of the tool spindle in the Z-axis direction. A drawing direction of the line body from the inside to the outside of the processing area is a direction intersecting the Z-axis direction in top view.