A dross abatement system for a printer is disclosed. The dross abatement system includes a print head ejector, a pump in communication with the print head ejector having an inner cavity, a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity, a supply of printing material external to the print head ejector, a heating element configured to heat the printing material in the ejector, and a supply of absorbent material external to the print head ejector. A method of abating dross in a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the printer, advancing an absorbent material into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir, wherein the melt pool may include a metal printing material, absorbing dross from the metal printing material, removing the absorbent material including the dross, and resuming operation of the metal jetting printer.

A bead flow sensor module includes a housing, a beam, and a sensor. The beam extends into a flow channel of the housing through which a flow of beads and compressed air flows. The sensor outputs a signal indicative of bead impacts on the beam. A system incorporating the bead flow sensor module includes a compressed air source, a bead hopper, and a bead dispenser. The compressed air source delivers a flow of compressed air to the bead hopper. A flow of beads carried by the compressed air discharges from the bead hopper along a flow pathway connecting the bead hopper to the bead dispenser. The bead flow sensor module positioned along the flow pathway outputs the signal from which a bead flow volume through the bead dispenser is determined.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part, and a controller configured to control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material.

A gas atomization nozzle includes a through-hole formed along a center line; a nozzle portion configured of a Laval nozzle which is disposed around the center line and provided to be inclined at a predetermined angle toward the center line; and swirling motion imparting means for imparting a swirling flow around the center line to gas which is injected from the nozzle portion. The nozzle portion is formed in a ring shape which is continuous around the center line, and the swirling motion imparting means is configured as a fin provided in the nozzle portion to impart a swirling flow.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part, and a controller configured to control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material.

An arrangement (40) and process for coating a vehicle component (30) with a solid lubricant including a thermal spray device (10) having a spray direction along a spray line (S) corresponding to a central axis of a spray plume (16); a solid lubricant injection device (20) having an injection direction along an injection line (L) corresponding to a central axis of an injection plume (24); and a vehicle component (30) to be coated, having a surface (31) arranged at a distance (d) from an outlet orifice (13) of the thermal spray device (10) along the spray line (S). The solid lubricant injection device (20) is positioned such that the injection line (L) intersects the spray line (S) at an intersection point (P), which is intermediate the outlet orifice (13) of the thermal spray device (10) and the surface (31) of the component (30) to be coated. Also a process for thermal spray coating a vehicle component (30) with a solid lubricant coating and a vehicle, with such a coated component.

An arrangement (40) and process for coating a vehicle component (30) with a solid lubricant including a thermal spray device (10) having a spray direction along a spray line (S) corresponding to a central axis of a spray plume (16); a solid lubricant injection device (20) having an injection direction along an injection line (L) corresponding to a central axis of an injection plume (24); and a vehicle component (30) to be coated, having a surface (31) arranged at a distance (d) from an outlet orifice (13) of the thermal spray device (10) along the spray line (S). The solid lubricant injection device (20) is positioned such that the injection line (L) intersects the spray line (S) at an intersection point (P), which is intermediate the outlet orifice (13) of the thermal spray device (10) and the surface (31) of the component (30) to be coated. Also a process for thermal spray coating a vehicle component (30) with a solid lubricant coating and a vehicle, with such a coated component.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.