Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the temperature of powders in a powder-based additive manufacturing system using spatial light modulation. Powder layer temperatures can be measured and selectively controlled using a radiation source comprising a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator applies a visible light radiation and/or IR radiation. In addition to controlling the pre-fused temperature of the powder in the image plane, the spatial light modulator can also apply the radiation to fuse the powder.

A powder feeding device includes: a hopper including a discharge port for discharging powder; and a conveyance device configured to move a conveyance surface disposed below the discharge port in a first direction and invert the conveyance surface in a front end portion. The hopper includes a front wall portion positioned on a downstream side of the discharge port in the first direction. A predetermined gap is formed between a lower end of the front wall portion and the conveyance surface. In the powder feeding device, powder deposited on the conveyance surface is conveyed in the first direction by the conveyance device with a thickness corresponding to the gap and dropped from the front end portion.

A system for producing an object from a powder by selective laser sintering. The system includes a chamber and a support platform in the chamber. A spreader applies a layer of powder to a bed surface. An irradiation source irradiates select points in the powdered layer prepared on the support platform. A radiant heater heats at least a portion of the bed surface. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of select points on the bed surface. A controller adjusts the radiant heater in response to temperature data provided by the temperature sensor.

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.

In summary, the teachings herein concern methods and/or systems for preheating a build plate for additive manufacturing with at least one energy beam emitting a power. In some examples, the method comprises controlling a power distribution (P.sub.XY) of the power (P) over dimensions (X, Y) of the build plate comprising: determining the power (P) of the beam based on a target temperature (T.sub.SET) for the base plate and determining the allocation of the power (P) to the dimensions (X, Y) based on a temperature distribution (ΔT) in the base plate.

In summary, the teachings herein concern methods and/or systems for preheating a build plate for additive manufacturing with at least one energy beam emitting a power. In some examples, the method comprises controlling a power distribution (P.sub.XY) of the power (P) over dimensions (X, Y) of the build plate comprising: determining the power (P) of the beam based on a target temperature (T.sub.SET) for the base plate and determining the allocation of the power (P) to the dimensions (X, Y) based on a temperature distribution (ΔT) in the base plate.

An additive manufacturing device that forms a shaped object on a base by using one material of a powdery material and a linear material includes an additive material supply unit, a light irradiation unit, and a control unit that controls supply of the one material, irradiation with a light beam, and relative movement of the light beam. The light irradiation unit includes a central light beam irradiation part and an outer-side light beam irradiation part. The control unit separately controls an output condition of the central light beam irradiation part and an output condition of the outer-side light beam irradiation part, and the control unit increases a peak in a distribution shape of power density of the central light beam to be larger than a peak in a distribution shape of power density of the outer-side light beam to form the shaped object.

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed on a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of the three-dimensional article, lowering the support structure a predetermined distance and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure, rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at selected locations of the first powder layer, the at least one first energy beam source causing the first powder layer on the stationary support structure which is stationary to fuse in the selected locations according to the model to form first portions of the three-dimensional article.

Apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, the apparatus comprising: a work surface (170); a build bed (201) having a build area (190), the build area (190) being comprised within the work surface (170), wherein successive layers of said three-dimensional object are formed in the build bed (201); a first powder supply module (2) fixedly arranged on a first side of the work surface (170), outward from a first side of the build bed (201); a second powder supply module (3) fixedly arranged on a second side of the work surface (170), outward from a second side of the build bed (201); a first powder distribution sled (300) operable to distribute powder dosed to the work surface (170) from the first powder supply module (2) while moving in a first direction from the first side of the work surface (170) towards the second side of the work surface (170), and from the second powder supply module (3) while moving in a second direction from the second side of the work surface (170) towards the first side of the work surface (170), so as to form a layer of powder within the build area (190), the first powder distribution sled (300) being driveable along a first axis across the build area (190); and a print sled (350) operable to deposit a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder within the build area (170) to define the cross section of said object in said layer, the print sled (350) being driveable along a second axis across the build area (170); wherein the first powder distribution sled (300) comprises a first powder distribution device (320) for distributing the powder; wherein the print sled (350) comprises one or more droplet deposition heads (370) for depositing the fluid, a first radiation source assembly located on one side of the one or more droplet deposition heads (370), and a second radiation source assembly located on the other side of the one or more droplet deposition heads (370); and wherein the first powder distribution sled (300) further comprises a third radiation source assembly. Also provided a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, using apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention to form each layer of said object.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, a dispenser to deliver a layers of feed material onto the platform, one or more light sources to generate a first light beam and a plurality of second light beams, a galvo mirror scanner to scan the first light beam on a layer of feed material on the platform, and a plurality of polygon mirror scanners. The galvo mirror scanner has a first field of view that spans a width of a build area of the platform, whereas, each of the plurality of polygon mirror scanners having a second field of view with the plurality of polygon mirror scanners providing a plurality of second fields of view. Each second field of view is a portion of the first field of view, and the plurality of polygon mirror scanners are positioned such that the plurality of second fields of view span the width of the build area of the platform.