An additive manufacturing machine (910) includes a build unit (920) including a powder dispenser (906) having a hopper (904) for receiving a volume of additive powder (902). A powder supply system (1000) includes a powder supply source (940) and a conveyor (1024) for transporting dispensed additive powder (902) to the hopper (904). A supply sensing system (1060) monitors the additive powder (902) that is dispensed from the powder supply source (940) and transported to the hopper (904) and a hopper sensing system (1040) monitors the additive powder (902) within the hopper (904). Each of these systems includes one or more powder level sensors (1042, 1044, 1062), weight sensors (1050, 1064), and/or vision systems (1054, 1070) for monitoring the additive powder (902).

Provided is a chamber system for solid free form fabrication, the chamber system having a deposition chamber, a service chamber and one or more loading/unloading chambers. The chamber system allows for a more efficient and cost effective process to service the deposition apparatus, load holding substrates, and unload workpieces without requiring having to adjust the atmosphere in the deposition chamber.

A system for building a three dimensional green compact comprising a printing station configured to print a mask pattern on a building surface, wherein the mask pattern is formed of solidifiable material; a powder delivery station configured to apply a layer of powder material on the mask pattern; a die compaction station for compacting the layer formed by the powder material and the mask pattern; and a stage configured to repeatedly advance a building tray to each of the printing station, the powder delivery station and the die compaction station to build a plurality of layers that together form the three dimensional green compact.

A system for building a three dimensional green compact comprising a printing station configured to print a mask pattern on a building surface, wherein the mask pattern is formed of solidifiable material; a powder delivery station configured to apply a layer of powder material on the mask pattern; a die compaction station for compacting the layer formed by the powder material and the mask pattern; and a stage configured to repeatedly advance a building tray to each of the printing station, the powder delivery station and the die compaction station to build a plurality of layers that together form the three dimensional green compact.

An additive manufacturing system may include a controller operably coupled to a vision system and an additive manufacturing machine. The controller may be configured to determine a workpiece-interface of each of a plurality of workpieces from one or more digital representations of one or more fields of view having been captured by a vision system and determining one or more coordinates of the workpiece-interface of respective ones of the plurality of workpieces, and to transmit one or more print commands to an additive manufacturing machine so as to additively print a plurality of extension segments on the workpiece-interface of respective ones of the plurality of workpieces, with the one or more print commands having been generated based at least in part on the one or more digital representations of the one or more fields of view.

A coating device arrangement 1 for a 3D printer 100 is described, comprising a coating device 3 having a carrier structure 21a to 21c and a container 17 fixed to the carrier structure, defining an inner cavity for receiving particulate construction material, which leads to an opening for outputting the particulate construction material, a vibration device 23 configured to vibrate particulate construction material received in the container and thereby to influence the discharge of construction material from the opening, and a stroking member 15a attached to the coating device, configured to stroke particulate construction material output from the opening to thereby level and/or compress the output particulate material, and/or a closing device 31 configured to selectively close the opening and comprising a closing member 31a attached to the coating device 3, wherein the stroking member 15a and/or the closing member 31a are fixed to the carrier structure to be vibration-decoupled from the vibration generated by means of the vibration device in the container 17.

A method of manufacturing a door hinge, which can improve productivity by applying both metal injection molding and additive manufacturing is disclosed. The door hinge includes: a first body configured to include at least one first connection member in which a first pinhole is formed; a second body configured to include at least one second connection member in which a second pinhole communicating with the first pinhole is formed; and a pin member configured to be added and filled in a cavity formed by communicating the first pinhole of the first body and the second pinhole of the second body with each other so that the first body and the second body are foldably connected to each other.

The invention relates to a coating device and to a method for metal-coating of workpieces, comprising a housing, which surrounds a working space, a retaining apparatus for retaining at least one workpiece in the working space, at least one deposition apparatus comprising a deposition nozzle for applying a metal powder to a workpiece surface to be coated, and a laser for locally melting the metal powder on the workpiece surface to form a coating, at least one movement apparatus, by means of which the at least one deposition apparatus can be moved relative to the workpiece surface during the coating, at least one air supply and at least one air discharge. According to the invention, it is provided that the air supply is arranged in an upper region of the working space above the workpiece and the air discharge is arranged in a lower region of the working space below the workpiece. In addition, a additional suction apparatus is provided with at least one suction opening, which is arranged close to the workpiece.

The invention relates to a coating device and to a method for metal-coating of workpieces, comprising a housing, which surrounds a working space, a retaining apparatus for retaining at least one workpiece in the working space, at least one deposition apparatus comprising a deposition nozzle for applying a metal powder to a workpiece surface to be coated, and a laser for locally melting the metal powder on the workpiece surface to form a coating, at least one movement apparatus, by means of which the at least one deposition apparatus can be moved relative to the workpiece surface during the coating, at least one air supply and at least one air discharge. According to the invention, it is provided that the air supply is arranged in an upper region of the working space above the workpiece and the air discharge is arranged in a lower region of the working space below the workpiece. In addition, a additional suction apparatus is provided with at least one suction opening, which is arranged close to the workpiece.

Plant (1) for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising a at least one item transfer device (6) being configured to transfer an item (9) from a first item position and/or a first item orientation to a second item position and/or a second item orientation, wherein the at least one item transfer device (6) comprises at least one item transfer element (7) comprising a plurality of item transfer element members (8) being interconnected with each other via hinged connections.