An AM installation utilising SLM or SLS a chamber of a housing with a protective atmosphere, a support structure in the chamber defines an upper horizontal surface on which a laser source is operable for focusing onto predetermined regions of a build area of the plane of the horizontal surface. The laser beam source is operable so areas of each of successive layers of powder material are sintered or fully molten throughout its layer thickness. A dosing device raises successive quantities of powder to the level of the upper surface to enable a re-coater to form the layers. A separable build device unit defines build chamber opening at the upper surface, and includes a lift table and an electric drive by which the lift table is stepwise vertically adjustable so a progressively built component is lowerable into the build chamber.

An additive manufacturing machine and associated method for making a part layerwise by firstly using additive manufacture to make a mold to define a space for the layer, and secondly filling the space with a paste to make a layer of the part. The machine comprises a first mold forming station with inkjet nozzles to form the mold using standard 3D printing, and a second paste dispensing station distanced from the first station, with a dispensing die slot for dispensing paste into the space to form a layer. The machine operates on multiple parts simultaneously, each being conveyed along a path through the stations.

An additive manufacturing machine and associated method for making a part layerwise by firstly using additive manufacture to make a mold to define a space for the layer, and secondly filling the space with a paste to make a layer of the part. The machine comprises a first mold forming station with inkjet nozzles to form the mold using standard 3D printing, and a second paste dispensing station distanced from the first station, with a dispensing die slot for dispensing paste into the space to form a layer. The machine operates on multiple parts simultaneously, each being conveyed along a path through the stations.

Methods and apparatus for recoating parameter control are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a blade holder, a blade, and a control element disposed within the blade holder, the control element to move the blade between a first position and a second position, the apparatus having a first stiffness when the blade is in the first position, the apparatus having a second stiffness when the blade is in the second position, the first stiffness greater than the second stiffness.

Methods and apparatus for recoating parameter control are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a blade holder, a blade, and a control element disposed within the blade holder, the control element to move the blade between a first position and a second position, the apparatus having a first stiffness when the blade is in the first position, the apparatus having a second stiffness when the blade is in the second position, the first stiffness greater than the second stiffness.

Methods and apparatus for recoating parameter control are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a blade holder, a blade, and a control element disposed within the blade holder, the control element to move the blade between a first position and a second position, the apparatus having a first stiffness when the blade is in the first position, the apparatus having a second stiffness when the blade is in the second position, the first stiffness greater than the second stiffness.

A stress controlled layer is constituted to include a compressive stress applied part that is a region to which a compressive stress is applied and a compressive stress non-applied part that is a region different from the compressive stress applied part. In a solidifying step, scanning of a laser beam or an electron beam is performed while a scanning direction for the compressive stress applied part is different from a scanning direction for the compressive stress non-applied part such that the compressive stress applied part expands further than the compressive stress non-applied part or the compressive stress non-applied part shrinks compared with the compressive stress applied part based on a relationship between the scanning direction and an expansion quantity or a shrinkage quantity at a time of temperature change or at a time of heat treatment.

A stress controlled layer is constituted to include a compressive stress applied part that is a region to which a compressive stress is applied and a compressive stress non-applied part that is a region different from the compressive stress applied part. In a solidifying step, scanning of a laser beam or an electron beam is performed while a scanning direction for the compressive stress applied part is different from a scanning direction for the compressive stress non-applied part such that the compressive stress applied part expands further than the compressive stress non-applied part or the compressive stress non-applied part shrinks compared with the compressive stress applied part based on a relationship between the scanning direction and an expansion quantity or a shrinkage quantity at a time of temperature change or at a time of heat treatment.

A coating device arrangement 1 for a 3D printer is described, comprising a coating device 3 having a container 17 defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material, which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material onto a construction field, as well as a closing device 31 configured to selectively close the opening for outputting the particulate construction material.

An additive manufacturing apparatus is provided. The additive manufacturing apparatus may include a stabilizing system; a build platform on the stabilizing system; and a build unit positioned over the build platform, wherein the build unit comprises a powder dispenser and a recoater blade. Methods are also provided for making an object from powder.