An apparatus for producing an object by additive manufacturing including a process chamber for receiving a bath of material configured to be solidified, wherein a surface level of the bath of material defines an object working area. A support positions an object to be produced in relation to the surface level. A plurality of solidifying devices are configured to solidify a selective part of the bath of material and operate in substantially the entire object working area. A controller individually controls each of the plurality of solidifying devices such that each device can operate on in a different part of the object working area. A method for producing an object using the apparatus.

An apparatus for producing an object by additive manufacturing including a chamber for receiving a bath of material solidified by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, a support for positioning the object, and a solidifying device for solidifying a layer of the material. A registering device registers a characteristic of a calibration area related to the surface level of the bath of material and a control unit utilizes the characteristic to control the position of the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

A system (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (2) by way of the solidification above one another of layers of a building material which can be solidified by means of radiation at the points which correspond to the respective cross section of the object, wherein the system (1) comprises at least one process station (4) which is arranged in a first housing (3) for carrying out the layer-by-layer generative building process in a building container (5), and a handling station (7) in at least one second housing (6) for unpacking produced objects (2) from the building container (5) which can be moved between the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7), wherein the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7) are arranged in separate housing units (3, 6).

A system (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (2) by way of the solidification above one another of layers of a building material which can be solidified by means of radiation at the points which correspond to the respective cross section of the object, wherein the system (1) comprises at least one process station (4) which is arranged in a first housing (3) for carrying out the layer-by-layer generative building process in a building container (5), and a handling station (7) in at least one second housing (6) for unpacking produced objects (2) from the building container (5) which can be moved between the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7), wherein the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7) are arranged in separate housing units (3, 6).

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

To separate excess material, the component moved by a movement device that is controlled by movement data, and a fill level of the component with material is measured. A process for emptying material from the component simulated for each different initial fill level with material, wherein movement data, which specify a simulated movement of the component, and a simulated fill level progression resulting from the simulated movement are assigned to the associated initial fill level. In addition, a corresponding initial fill level is selected in accordance with the measured fill level, and the movement device is controlled by movement data which are assigned to the selected initial fill level. The fill level is measured and compared to a simulated fill level progression assigned to the selected initial fill level. The steps of selecting a corresponding initial fill level (SAFG) and controlling the movement device (BV) are carried out.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing three-dimensional models by layering technology, using a core cleaning station.

An apparatus and method for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory. The apparatus includes a build platform having a build gap defined therein. A base plate is initially supported along a lower surface of the build platform such that an edge of the base plate extends along and closes off the build gap. A powder delivery assembly is configured to supply powder to the build gap. At least one directed energy source is configured to apply directed energy to at least a portion of the build gap to form a layer of the three-dimensional structure. An advancement assembly configured to selectively engage with the base plate and/or the three-dimensional structure to hold the base plate and the three-dimensional structure in a fixed position during forming of a layer and to advance the base plate and the three-dimensional structure once the layer is formed.

An apparatus and method for fabricating a three-dimensional object from a representation of the object stored in memory. The apparatus includes a build platform having a build gap defined therein. A base plate is initially supported along a lower surface of the build platform such that an edge of the base plate extends along and closes off the build gap. A powder delivery assembly is configured to supply powder to the build gap. At least one directed energy source is configured to apply directed energy to at least a portion of the build gap to form a layer of the three-dimensional structure. An advancement assembly configured to selectively engage with the base plate and/or the three-dimensional structure to hold the base plate and the three-dimensional structure in a fixed position during forming of a layer and to advance the base plate and the three-dimensional structure once the layer is formed.