An additive manufacturing device is an additive manufacturing device manufacturing an additively manufactured article by melting or sintering layered powder by partially applying energy to the powder. The additive manufacturing device includes a powder holding unit holding the layered powder, a heating unit preheating the powder held by the powder holding unit, a reflection unit where a reflective film including a reflective surface is disposed, the reflective surface reflecting radiant heat radiated from an object including at least one of the powder and the additively manufactured article to the powder holding unit side, and a reflective surface update unit disposing a new reflective surface in the reflection unit by moving the reflective film.

A system includes a first group of optic lenses within a focusing unit positioned along the propagation direction of a collimated laser beam, the first group of optic lenses separated by a predetermined fixed distance. The first group of optic lenses in conjunction cause the collimated beam to form as an annular beam as it passes through the first group of optic lenses. An axicon lens located distal from the first group of optic lenses along the propagation direction, the axicon lens operable to bifurcate the annular beam into two deflected collimated beam sections, and the axicon lens having a focus that causes the two deflected collimated beam sections to merge at a distance distal from the axicon lens to create an interference pattern region.

A system includes a first group of optic lenses within a focusing unit positioned along the propagation direction of a collimated laser beam, the first group of optic lenses separated by a predetermined fixed distance. The first group of optic lenses in conjunction cause the collimated beam to form as an annular beam as it passes through the first group of optic lenses. An axicon lens located distal from the first group of optic lenses along the propagation direction, the axicon lens operable to bifurcate the annular beam into two deflected collimated beam sections, and the axicon lens having a focus that causes the two deflected collimated beam sections to merge at a distance distal from the axicon lens to create an interference pattern region.

An apparatus and a process for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by successive layer-by-layer consolidation of selected zones of a powder stratum, the consolidated zones corresponding to successive sections of the three-dimensional object, each layer being divided into a central internal portion and an external border, said process comprising the following steps in order: a—depositing a powder layer on a holder; b—fusing the external border of said powder layer by means of a laser beam originating from a first energy source by moving the laser beam of said first energy source relative to the object along a preset path that follows the contour of said external border corresponding to the contour of the cross section of the object so as to selectively fuse said layer; and c—fusing the central internal portion of the powder layer by means of an electron beam originating from a second energy source, by moving the electron beam of said second energy source relative to the object so as to sweep it over said central internal portion along a preset path corresponding to the central internal portion of the cross section of the object so as to selectively fuse said layer; or d—repeating steps a and b N times so as to form a plurality of superposed layers of fused material forming a portion of the external border of said object and then carrying out step c so as to fuse the central internal portion of the object corresponding to the N powder layers; and e—repeating steps a to c or a, b and d until all the layers of the object have been consolidated.

A 3D-printing method for the additive production of components includes supplying a modelling material to a 3D-printing device, determining quality characteristics of the modelling material using a monitoring device, analyzing a product quality of the modelling material, using an analysis device, on the basis of the determined quality characteristics, depositing and liquefying the modelling material layer by layer, and curing the liquefied modelling material layer by layer.

An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser (4) for generating a laser beam and a laser head (5) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam (7) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.

An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser (4) for generating a laser beam and a laser head (5) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam (7) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.

A method is provided for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a metal powder bed, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the method comprising the steps of: directing the at least one electron beam from the at least one electron beam source over a work table causing a powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article, preheating, with the at least one electron beam, an area of non-fused powder to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range a predetermined distance in Z-direction before the area is to be fused, where the area times the distance in z-direction is defining a preheating volume of non-fused powder when the three dimensional article is finished.

A method and device for powder bed additive manufacturing of a component includes the selective irradiation of a layer made of a powder material with a first energy beam and a second energy beam, that is different from the first, wherein the second energy beam annularly surrounds the first energy beam, and the aselective heating of the layer, wherein a large part of the layer is heated to a temperature that is at least one quarter of the temperature that the layer is heated to as a result of the selective irradiation.

Provided is a method for the layer-by-layer manufacture of an object from particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) distributing a layer of particulate material over a build bed, the layer forming a build bed surface and having a layer thickness; (b) preheating the layer to a preheat temperature; (c) heating a cross section of the object of the layer to at least a sintering temperature to cause the particulate material of the cross section to sinter or melt; (d) lowering the build bed by an increment; and (e) distributing a further layer of particulate material of substantially an intended layer thickness, the further layer forming the build bed surface; wherein an object layer cycle comprises the steps (b) to (d); and (f) optionally, repeating the object layer cycle until the object is complete; wherein the increment is different to the intended layer thickness. Further provided is a controller for carrying out the method and an apparatus comprising the controller.