A container arrangement of an unpacking device for a manufacturing device for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional component is provided. The container arrangement includes a construction container with a construction chamber, and a collecting container that is releasably connected to the construction container and has a collecting chamber. The construction container has a container cover that, in the closed state, seals off the construction chamber and an inert atmosphere located therein from the surroundings. A collecting-container-side part of an interior of the container arrangement is provided inside the container arrangement. The container arrangement further includes an opening device that can be used, with the collecting-container-side part of the interior of the container arrangement being filled with an inert atmosphere, to open the closed container cover of the construction container and thereby to connect the construction chamber of the construction container to the collecting chamber of the collecting container.

A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a chassis, a door, and a plurality of latches. The chassis defines an internal process chamber and a vertical opening for accessing the internal process chamber. A peripheral seal surrounds the vertical opening. The plurality of latches are arranged around the peripheral seal. The latches individually include a hook. The vertical door is mounted to the chassis by a linkage. The door includes a plurality of laterally extending pins individually corresponding to the latches. The pins have locations along the door to be individually engaged by the latches when the door is positioned in the closed position. The latches are individually configured to rotate the hooks around a second lateral axis (Y) when the door is positioned in the closed position with the door closing over the opening to secure the door with respect to a first lateral axis (X).

A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a chassis, a door, and a plurality of latches. The chassis defines an internal process chamber and a vertical opening for accessing the internal process chamber. A peripheral seal surrounds the vertical opening. The plurality of latches are arranged around the peripheral seal. The latches individually include a hook. The vertical door is mounted to the chassis by a linkage. The door includes a plurality of laterally extending pins individually corresponding to the latches. The pins have locations along the door to be individually engaged by the latches when the door is positioned in the closed position. The latches are individually configured to rotate the hooks around a second lateral axis (Y) when the door is positioned in the closed position with the door closing over the opening to secure the door with respect to a first lateral axis (X).

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).

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).

Component carrier for an additive manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a construction surface, on which a component to be manufactured is disposed during the operation of the manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a sealing surface which radially surrounds the construction surface, and method for post-processing a component manufactured according to an additive manufacturing process using such a component carrier.

Component carrier for an additive manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a construction surface, on which a component to be manufactured is disposed during the operation of the manufacturing device, wherein the component carrier comprises a sealing surface which radially surrounds the construction surface, and method for post-processing a component manufactured according to an additive manufacturing process using such a component carrier.

A polymer three-dimensional (3D) printing methodology is disclosed for freeform fabrication of polymeric structures under ambient conditions without the use of printed support structures. The build material can be dissolved in a suitable solvent for 3D printing. The polymer solution can be printed in (e.g., continuously printed using a moving dispensing nozzle) a yield-stress support bath to form an intermediate article. The intermediate article may be liquid or only partially coagulated after being printed into the yield-stress support bath. The yield-stress support bath may be at least partially disposed within a container, and the container may be immersed in a post-treatment coagulation solution to remove some or all of the solvent, causing the build material to fully solidify to form a finished article from the intermediate article.

A method is provided for controlling an additive manufacturing process in which one or more energy beams are used to selectively fuse a powder contained in an additive manufacturing machine having a gas flow therein in order to form a workpiece, in the presence of one or more plumes generated by interaction of the one or more energy beams with the powder, wherein the process is controlled by an electronic controller. The method includes: performing a build process to form a workpiece using a set of initial process parameters; sensing a condition of the finished workpiece; using the electronic controller, comparing the condition of the finished workpiece to a predetermined standard; using the electronic controller, changing one or more of the initial process parameters to define a set of revised process parameters; and performing a subsequent build process using the revised process parameters.

A method is provided for controlling an additive manufacturing process in which one or more energy beams are used to selectively fuse a powder contained in an additive manufacturing machine having a gas flow therein in order to form a workpiece, in the presence of one or more plumes generated by interaction of the one or more energy beams with the powder, wherein the process is controlled by an electronic controller. The method includes: performing a build process to form a workpiece using a set of initial process parameters; sensing a condition of the finished workpiece; using the electronic controller, comparing the condition of the finished workpiece to a predetermined standard; using the electronic controller, changing one or more of the initial process parameters to define a set of revised process parameters; and performing a subsequent build process using the revised process parameters.