The invention relates to a device (1) for producing three-dimensional workpieces (15), comprising a carrier (7) for receiving raw material powder (9), a build chamber wall (11, 11a, 11b) which extend substantially vertically and which is adapted to laterally delimit and support the raw material powder (9) applied to the carrier (7); an irradiation unit (17) for selectively irradiating the raw material powder (9) applied to the carrier (7) with electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation in order to produce on the carrier (7) a workpiece (15) manufactured from the raw material powder (9) by an additive layer building method, wherein the irradiation unit (17) comprises at least one optical element; and a vertical movement device (31) which is adapted to move the irradiation unit (17) vertically relative to the carrier (7). The build chamber wall (11, 11a, 11b) and the carrier (7) are adapted to be connected to one another in a stationary manner during the vertical movement of the irradiation unit (17) so that the vertical movement takes place relative to the carrier (7) and relative to the build chamber wall (11, 11a, 11b).

Modular additive manufacturing systems, related methods for simultaneously building three-dimensional parts in successively bonded layers, and related computer readable storage medium. A plurality of build assemblies is laid out along at least one direction of a manufacturing path defining a loop, and at least one build assembly is functioning to build a three-dimensional part from build material according to build instructions. A guidable module is guided via a guiding assembly along the manufacturing path to repeatedly perform at least one step necessary to build the three-dimensional part on each functioning build assembly.

Modular additive manufacturing systems, related methods for simultaneously building three-dimensional parts in successively bonded layers, and related computer readable storage medium. A plurality of build assemblies is laid out along at least one direction of a manufacturing path defining a loop, and at least one build assembly is functioning to build a three-dimensional part from build material according to build instructions. A guidable module is guided via a guiding assembly along the manufacturing path to repeatedly perform at least one step necessary to build the three-dimensional part on each functioning build assembly.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed at spreading sequential layers of powder across a powder bed and applying energy to each layer to form a three-dimensional object. The powder can include granules including agglomerations of metallic particles to facilitate spreading the metallic particles in each layer. The energy can be directed to the powder to reflow the granules in each layer to bind the metallic particles in the layer to one another and to one or more adjacent layers to form the three-dimensional object. Thus, in general, the agglomeration of the metallic particles in the granules can overcome constraints associated with metallic particles that are of a size ordinarily unsuitable for flowing and/or a size that presents safety risks. By overcoming these constraints, the granules can improve formation of dense finished parts from a powder and can result in formation of unique microstructures in finished parts.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed at spreading sequential layers of powder across a powder bed and applying energy to each layer to form a three-dimensional object. The powder can include granules including agglomerations of metallic particles to facilitate spreading the metallic particles in each layer. The energy can be directed to the powder to reflow the granules in each layer to bind the metallic particles in the layer to one another and to one or more adjacent layers to form the three-dimensional object. Thus, in general, the agglomeration of the metallic particles in the granules can overcome constraints associated with metallic particles that are of a size ordinarily unsuitable for flowing and/or a size that presents safety risks. By overcoming these constraints, the granules can improve formation of dense finished parts from a powder and can result in formation of unique microstructures in finished parts.

The disclosed method includes selecting a suspension ceramic or metal photocurable composition (CPC or MPC); preparing a sacrificial organic material (SOM) forming a photocurable layer destroyed by heating; for manufacturing pieces, on the working tray, forming successive layers of SOM cured by irradiation, the one or more CPC or MPC-based pieces being manufactured by machining a recess in a layer of cured SOM; depositing the CPC or MPC within the recesses; curing the CPC or MPC to obtain a hard horizontal surface level with the adjacent layer of cured SOM, when forming each recess, it is delimited by previously defined patterns, the depth(s) selected in order to ensure the continuity of the one or more pieces to be manufactured; and obtaining one or more green pieces inserted in the SOM, which are subjected to debinding by heating in order to destroy the SOM in which they are trapped.

Techniques and compositions are disclosed for composite feedstocks with powder/binder systems suitable for three-dimensional printing, such as fused filament fabrication. The composite feedstocks may include a jacket about a core, with at least the core including a powder material suspended in a binder system and the jacket having a hardness or toughness greater than a hardness or toughness of the core for the feedstock. In general, the harder jacket may protect the core from unintended deformation or damage during transportation, storage, or use. For example, the difference in hardness or toughness between the jacket and the core may facilitate gripping the feedstock (e.g., by gear drives or the like) with a higher amount of force than is otherwise applicable if the feedstock were composed of the core alone, without damaging the core, during a fused filament fabrication process or another additive manufacturing process.

The present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional objects based on computer-provided data, whereby a material is deposited in layers in a process chamber and the material is selectively solidified and/or bonded using a bonding apparatus and/or a solidifying apparatus in the process chamber, these steps being repeated. A conveyance of the material proceeds during the build process and proceeds continuously, sequentially and evenly up to an unpacking position.

The invention relates to a forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, comprising a process chamber (28) having a powder inlet (32) for powder material to be processed, and a powder outlet (36) for excess powder material, a powder supply apparatus (80, 82) that is or can be connected to the powder inlet (32) and is intended for providing powder material in the process chamber (28), and a powder recovery apparatus (74) that is or can be connected to the powder outlet (36) and is intended for recycling powder material to be processed out of the excess powder material,
wherein the powder supply apparatus (80, 82) and the powder recovery apparatus (74) are combined to form a subassembly that is designed as an interchangeable module (16) and comprises connection interfaces, specifically at least one input interface (46) an at least one output interface (48), that are connection-compatible with relevant connection interfaces (40, 44) of the powder inlet (32) and powder outlet (36) of the process chamber (28) such that excess powder can be fed out of the process chamber (28) through the powder outlet (36) thereof to the powder recovery apparatus (74) by means of the at least one input interface (46), and such that powder material prepared by the powder recovery apparatus (74) can be fed to the process chamber (28) through the powder inlet (32) thereof by means of the at least one output interface (48).

The invention relates to a forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, comprising a process chamber (28) having a powder inlet (32) for powder material to be processed, and a powder outlet (36) for excess powder material, a powder supply apparatus (80, 82) that is or can be connected to the powder inlet (32) and is intended for providing powder material in the process chamber (28), and a powder recovery apparatus (74) that is or can be connected to the powder outlet (36) and is intended for recycling powder material to be processed out of the excess powder material,
wherein the powder supply apparatus (80, 82) and the powder recovery apparatus (74) are combined to form a subassembly that is designed as an interchangeable module (16) and comprises connection interfaces, specifically at least one input interface (46) an at least one output interface (48), that are connection-compatible with relevant connection interfaces (40, 44) of the powder inlet (32) and powder outlet (36) of the process chamber (28) such that excess powder can be fed out of the process chamber (28) through the powder outlet (36) thereof to the powder recovery apparatus (74) by means of the at least one input interface (46), and such that powder material prepared by the powder recovery apparatus (74) can be fed to the process chamber (28) through the powder inlet (32) thereof by means of the at least one output interface (48).