Systems and methods for simulating a melt pool characteristic for selective laser melting additive manufacturing. The system includes a selective laser melting apparatus and an electronic controller configured to obtain a surface geometry of a previous layer of a component being manufactured using the selective laser melting apparatus, simulate an addition of a powder layer having a desired powder layer thickness to the component based upon the surface geometry of the previous layer, determine a melt pool characteristic based upon geometric information of the simulated powder layer and the desired powder layer thickness, determine an adjustment to the simulated powder layer based upon the melt pool characteristic, and actuate the selective laser melting apparatus based upon the simulated powder layer and the determined adjustment.

An additive manufacturing method including repeatedly applying a layer of building material on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and scanning the layer at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, where the laser radiation is generated by a laser light source and is directed onto the building material layer via optical components. An optics compartment is encased by an optics compartment housing and accommodates the optical components. A defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

An additive manufacturing method including repeatedly applying a layer of building material on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and scanning the layer at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, where the laser radiation is generated by a laser light source and is directed onto the building material layer via optical components. An optics compartment is encased by an optics compartment housing and accommodates the optical components. A defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

A method for determining additive manufacturing parameters for the manufacture of an additive manufacturing support (1) for a target part exhibiting an overhang comprises the steps of: (a) additive manufacture of a plurality of supports for each supporting an overhang (2) of a test part (3), each support (1) being associated with a collection of manufacturing parameters and a collection of geometric parameters pertaining to the overhang (2); (b) manufacturing the test part (3) and observing, for each support (1), a collection of mechanical parameters pertaining to the support (1); (c) determining the additive manufacturing parameters for the manufacture of the support (1) of the target part on the basis of the geometric parameters pertaining to the overhang of the target part and of the mechanical parameters pertaining to the support.

A method for determining additive manufacturing parameters for the manufacture of an additive manufacturing support (1) for a target part exhibiting an overhang comprises the steps of: (a) additive manufacture of a plurality of supports for each supporting an overhang (2) of a test part (3), each support (1) being associated with a collection of manufacturing parameters and a collection of geometric parameters pertaining to the overhang (2); (b) manufacturing the test part (3) and observing, for each support (1), a collection of mechanical parameters pertaining to the support (1); (c) determining the additive manufacturing parameters for the manufacture of the support (1) of the target part on the basis of the geometric parameters pertaining to the overhang of the target part and of the mechanical parameters pertaining to the support.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a universal laser system including a laser operable to produce an infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths, an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the laser beam, and electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the laser and the optics assembly, where the laser is configured to produce the infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order, non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the infrared laser beam.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by, repeatedly, depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning a plurality of laser beams over the deposited powder to selectively solidify the powder layers, wherein a gas flow is passed over the powder bed in a gas flow direction. The method including selecting a scanning sequence for the plurality of laser beams to include the simultaneous exposure of an upstream point together with a downstream point located downstream of a flow of debris carried from the upstream point by the gas flow, the downstream and upstream points selected for simultaneous exposure based upon the downstream point being within a maximum separation distance from the upstream point.

A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by, repeatedly, depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning a plurality of laser beams over the deposited powder to selectively solidify the powder layers, wherein a gas flow is passed over the powder bed in a gas flow direction. The method including selecting a scanning sequence for the plurality of laser beams to include the simultaneous exposure of an upstream point together with a downstream point located downstream of a flow of debris carried from the upstream point by the gas flow, the downstream and upstream points selected for simultaneous exposure based upon the downstream point being within a maximum separation distance from the upstream point.