The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal foam, which is capable of forming in a very short time a metal foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal foam produced by the above method. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, in a short time, and such a metal foam.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal foam, which is capable of forming a metal foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal foam having the above characteristics. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, within a fast process time, and such a metal foam.

The invention relates to a device for inductive heating of a component, having a component placement unit for the component, an induction coil, with which the component can be heated inductively, at least in regions, an electrical lead for the induction coil, and a positioning unit, at which the induction coil is arranged in such a way that it can be brought into different relative arrangements with respect to the component placement unit by way of the positioning unit, wherein the electrical lead is guided over a contact, which is formed by contact surfaces that rest against each other and are shifted in position in relation to each other in the contact position when the induction coil is shifted in position by means of the positioning unit.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal alloy foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal alloy foam, which is capable of forming a metal alloy foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal alloy foam having the above characteristics. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal alloy foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, within a fast process time, and such a metal alloy foam.

A method and apparatus for generating a molten raw material for three-dimensional printing, in which a solid raw material (6, 15) is heated to obtain the molten raw material, wherein the solid raw material (6, 15) is heated to a molten state by electromagnetic induction at an output end (19, 21) of a guiding device (1, 10) and/or outside the output end (19, 21) of the guiding device (1, 10) and thus a molten segment (7, 9, 16) is formed; the molten segment (7, 9, 16) generated is only in contact with the solid raw material (6, 15) and is supported by the solid raw material (6, 15) before being in contact with a printed object (8, 17) and/or a support platform (4, 13); and the molten segment (7, 9, 16) generated is in contact with and supported by the solid raw material (6, 15), the printed object (8, 17) and/or the support platform (4, 13) and is not in contact with other structures after being in contact with the printed object (8, 17) and/or the support platform (4, 13); and the molten segment (7, 9, 16) is namely the molten raw material. The above-mentioned method and apparatus have a high controllability and reliability; can generate a molten raw material of a conductive material with an ultrahigh melting point; do not destroy the fine structure generated during previous printing through a three-dimensional printing apparatus; can be applied to high-precision three-dimensional printing; and can be used in a vacuum and weightless printing environment.

A powdered material preform includes a pressed powdered metal or other powdered material, where the preform is processed and sealed so that a skin or shell is formed at the outer surface of the preform (such as via melting an outer layer or surface of the preform or via adding an outer layer around the preform or via a combination thereof), with an inner portion of the preform comprising pressed powdered material. The skinned preform may comprise a shape that is generally similar to that of a final product or part to be formed, or may simply comprise a puck or shape of approximately the same mass of the shape being formed, and the skinned preform is suitable for use in subsequent densification and/or consolidation processes or combinations thereof to form the final, fully processed part.

A powdered material preform includes a pressed powdered metal or other powdered material, where the preform is processed and sealed so that a skin or shell is formed at the outer surface of the preform (such as via melting an outer layer or surface of the preform or via adding an outer layer around the preform or via a combination thereof), with an inner portion of the preform comprising pressed powdered material. The skinned preform may comprise a shape that is generally similar to that of a final product or part to be formed, or may simply comprise a puck or shape of approximately the same mass of the shape being formed, and the skinned preform is suitable for use in subsequent densification and/or consolidation processes or combinations thereof to form the final, fully processed part.

The present application provides a method for manufacturing a metal foam. The present application can provide a method for manufacturing a metal foam, which is capable of forming in a very short time a metal foam comprising uniformly formed pores and having excellent mechanical properties as well as the desired porosity, and a metal foam produced by the above method. In addition, the present application can provide a method capable of forming a metal foam in which the above-mentioned physical properties are ensured, while being in the form of a thin film or sheet, in a short time, and such a metal foam.

A mould-forming and sacrificial materials are printed into a plurality of layers. The sacrificial material is removed to leave a void defined by a mould structure formed by the mould-forming material. The void is filled with a part-forming material to form the part defined by the shape of the mould structure. The mould structure is removed from the part to free the part from the mould structure. According to a further method, the part-forming material serves the purpose of supporting the mould-forming material and then forming the part. In this case, the part-forming material can be printed together with a mould-forming material as described above and are then heated to a temperature of approximately 700 C. to activate a binder and then heated to a temperature that melts the part-forming material.

A heating method is described. A plurality of flux concentrators and at least one part may be held in proximity to one another. One or more alternating electric current may be generated to generate a plurality of alternating magnetic fields by the respective flux concentrators.