A method for performing a thermal simulation of an additive manufacturing process that includes accessing a voxel model representing a representative system using one or more processors. The voxel model includes a first transition associated with a first group of one or more voxels transitioning between liquid and vapor, a second transition associated with a second group of one or more voxels transitioning between solid and liquid, a third transition associated with a third group of one or more voxels undergoing sinter, and a fourth transition associated with a fourth group of one or more voxels undergoing a solid state phase change. The method determines a flux imbalance metric based on a flux, a rate of change of the first transition, a rate of change of the second transition, a rate of change of the third transition, and a rate of change of the fourth transition. The method determines one or more temperatures for the representative system based on the flux imbalance metric.

A system for monitored additive manufacturing of an object, comprising a manufacturing unit], designed for additive manufacturing of the object based on metal-containing manufacturing material in a manufacturing volume, wherein the object is built up by repeated layer-by-layer provision of the manufacturing material in defined quantity and accurately-positioned forming of the provided manufacturing material. The system moreover comprises an optical checking unit having at least one projector and two cameras and a control and processing unit. The manufacturing volume comprises an optical transmission region, the projector and cameras—are arranged outside the manufacturing volume in a fixed position relationship and are aligned in such a way that respective optical axes extend through a respective transmission region, by means of the projector, a projection can be generated on a manufacturing area and at least a common part of the manufacturing area on which the projection can be overlaid can be captured.

A system for monitored additive manufacturing of an object, comprising a manufacturing unit], designed for additive manufacturing of the object based on metal-containing manufacturing material in a manufacturing volume, wherein the object is built up by repeated layer-by-layer provision of the manufacturing material in defined quantity and accurately-positioned forming of the provided manufacturing material. The system moreover comprises an optical checking unit having at least one projector and two cameras and a control and processing unit. The manufacturing volume comprises an optical transmission region, the projector and cameras—are arranged outside the manufacturing volume in a fixed position relationship and are aligned in such a way that respective optical axes extend through a respective transmission region, by means of the projector, a projection can be generated on a manufacturing area and at least a common part of the manufacturing area on which the projection can be overlaid can be captured.

An assembly for calibrating a head system of a power radiation source of an additive manufacturing apparatus comprises: a calibration plate comprising a plurality of reference marks, and a firing medium made of at least one material that is sensitive to the radiation of the source, this medium leaving visible the reference marks of the calibration plate when it is in place on the latter, characterized in that the firing medium comprises a plurality of windows that are distributed so as to be superposed with the various reference marks of the calibration plate and to leave said marks visible when the firing medium is in place on the calibration plate. There is also a method for calibrating such a system.

The invention relates to a method for producing a part by means of a laser beam, with a nozzle (1) that sprays a metal powder towards a substrate (5). Initially, the trajectory of the nozzle is defined in a pre-determined manner, and then, during the production of the part (7): a theoretical reference distance D0 that has been previously recorded and a real distance which is then measured are compared, and
the trajectory of the nozzle is modified on the basis of a deviation threshold between said distances.

The invention relates to a method for producing a part by means of a laser beam, with a nozzle (1) that sprays a metal powder towards a substrate (5). Initially, the trajectory of the nozzle is defined in a pre-determined manner, and then, during the production of the part (7): a theoretical reference distance D0 that has been previously recorded and a real distance which is then measured are compared, and
the trajectory of the nozzle is modified on the basis of a deviation threshold between said distances.

A removable calibration plate (10) comprises a sheet (20) comprising an upper face (21) intended to face towards the powerful incident-radiation beam, and bearing a reference marking (30) and being intended to receive a test marking (40), and a lower face (23). The plate (10) comprises an etching layer (22) to be etched by a powerful incident-radiation beam (F),this layer being secured to the upper face (21) of the sheet (20) and opaque to visible light, and being able to be destroyed locally by the powerful incident-radiation beam (F) in order to form the at least one test marking (40), the sheet (20) being transparent to visible light, the lower face (23) of the sheet (20) being frosted.

A removable calibration plate (10) comprises a sheet (20) comprising an upper face (21) intended to face towards the powerful incident-radiation beam, and bearing a reference marking (30) and being intended to receive a test marking (40), and a lower face (23). The plate (10) comprises an etching layer (22) to be etched by a powerful incident-radiation beam (F),this layer being secured to the upper face (21) of the sheet (20) and opaque to visible light, and being able to be destroyed locally by the powerful incident-radiation beam (F) in order to form the at least one test marking (40), the sheet (20) being transparent to visible light, the lower face (23) of the sheet (20) being frosted.

A removable image-capture apparatus (200) comprises an opening (202) intended to receive a calibration plate (10) bearing a reference marking (30) and possibly a test marking (40). The apparatus (200) comprises a source (204) of backlighting visible light situated beneath the opening (202), a sensor (205) for acquiring an image, in the backlighting visible light, of the plate (10), a guiding and supporting device (206) for positioning the sensor (205) above the opening (202) relative to the surround (201), a calculation device (207) configured to analyze the image, recognize the marking (30) and possibly the marking (40) in the image, and calculate aiming-command corrections intended for a firing system firing a powerful incident-radiation beam, which system belongs to an additive manufacturing apparatus, distinct and separate from the apparatus (200).

A removable image-capture apparatus (200) comprises an opening (202) intended to receive a calibration plate (10) bearing a reference marking (30) and possibly a test marking (40). The apparatus (200) comprises a source (204) of backlighting visible light situated beneath the opening (202), a sensor (205) for acquiring an image, in the backlighting visible light, of the plate (10), a guiding and supporting device (206) for positioning the sensor (205) above the opening (202) relative to the surround (201), a calculation device (207) configured to analyze the image, recognize the marking (30) and possibly the marking (40) in the image, and calculate aiming-command corrections intended for a firing system firing a powerful incident-radiation beam, which system belongs to an additive manufacturing apparatus, distinct and separate from the apparatus (200).