An assembly and method for producing powder are provided. The assembly includes a melting chamber, an atomizing vessel, and a powder processing device. The melting chamber includes a crucible, a tundish, and a filtering device. The crucible is arranged for melting a material. The crucible and tundish are configured for providing a flow path for the melted material from the crucible into the tundish. The filtering device is arranged in the flow path. The tundish is connected to an atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle is configured to direct molten material from the tundish towards and into the atomizing vessel. The atomizing vessel comprises an outlet which is configured to extract solidified, atomized particles of the formerly molten material from the atomizing vessel. The powder processing device includes one or more separation units which are arranged for outputting one or more powders from the atomized particles.

A load lock system for manufacturing a metal alloy using a feed material includes a process chamber having a controlled atmosphere, a feed chamber in flow communication with the process chamber having controlled atmosphere capabilities configured to contain a quantity of the feed material, and a collection chamber in flow communication with the process chamber having controlled atmosphere capabilities configured to collect the metal alloy manufactured in the process chamber. The system also includes a gate valve between the process chamber and the feed chamber configured to either allow passage of the feed material between the chambers, or to seal the process chamber from the feed chamber. The system also includes a discharge valve between the process chamber and the collection chamber configured to either allow passage of the metal alloy between the chambers, or to seal the process chamber from the collection chamber.

A load lock system for manufacturing a metal alloy using a feed material includes a process chamber having a controlled atmosphere, a feed chamber in flow communication with the process chamber having controlled atmosphere capabilities configured to contain a quantity of the feed material, and a collection chamber in flow communication with the process chamber having controlled atmosphere capabilities configured to collect the metal alloy manufactured in the process chamber. The system also includes a gate valve between the process chamber and the feed chamber configured to either allow passage of the feed material between the chambers, or to seal the process chamber from the feed chamber. The system also includes a discharge valve between the process chamber and the collection chamber configured to either allow passage of the metal alloy between the chambers, or to seal the process chamber from the collection chamber.