A 3D printing method providing an improved manufacturing process by providing a plurality of layers forming at least a part of the component, wherein the plurality of layers contains at least one first layer part and at least one second layer part, wherein the at least one first layer part and the at least one second layer part have been manufactured with different manufacturing speeds.

A system and method for manufacturing three-dimensional structures is provided. The system includes plurality of printing stations and a robotic unit configured to interact with the plurality of printing stations, each of the plurality of printing stations being arranged to be accessible by the robotic unit. Each printing station includes a station controller for controlling at least one deposition control parameter. The system further includes a system controller configured to operate the robotic unit, and wherein the system controller is communicatively coupled to the plurality of printing stations for controlling at least an execution of printing tasks being performed on the plurality of printing stations. The station controllers are at least partially controllable by means of the system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to adjust at least one deposition control parameter of each printing station independent of deposition control parameters of other printing stations of the plurality of printing stations.

A method of additive manufacturing includes a) providing a component geometry with a hole and, b) selectively irradiating a powder bed with an energy beam according to the geometry in a layerwise manner, wherein in layers of the component including the hole, the respective regions which define the hole are irradiated with the energy beam such that a supporting structure is generated in the hole having a lower rigidity than a structure of the component. The supporting structure is used for counteracting stress or distortion during the additive buildup. A computer program product and apparatus correspond to the method.

A method of additive manufacturing includes a) providing a component geometry with a hole and, b) selectively irradiating a powder bed with an energy beam according to the geometry in a layerwise manner, wherein in layers of the component including the hole, the respective regions which define the hole are irradiated with the energy beam such that a supporting structure is generated in the hole having a lower rigidity than a structure of the component. The supporting structure is used for counteracting stress or distortion during the additive buildup. A computer program product and apparatus correspond to the method.

A method of additive manufacturing includes a) providing a component geometry with a hole and, b) selectively irradiating a powder bed with an energy beam according to the geometry in a layerwise manner, wherein in layers of the component including the hole, the respective regions which define the hole are irradiated with the energy beam such that a supporting structure is generated in the hole having a lower rigidity than a structure of the component. The supporting structure is used for counteracting stress or distortion during the additive buildup. A computer program product and apparatus correspond to the method.

Determining a quality score for a part manufactured by an additive manufacturing machine based on build parameters and sensor data without the need for extensive physical testing of the part. Sensor data is received from the additive manufacturing machine during manufacture of the part using a first set of build parameters. The first set of build parameters is received. A first algorithm is applied to the first set of build parameters and the received sensor data to generate a quality score. The first algorithm is trained by receiving a reference derived from physical measurements performed on at least one reference part built using a reference set of build parameters. The quality score is output via the communication interface of the device.

A method for the computer-aided provision of control instructions for pulsed irradiation in the additive production of a component structure includes establishing process parameters, including a pulse frequency, a pulse width, a scan speed, and an irradiation power; defining the pulse frequency and scan speed as process constants; and determining parameter values of the pulse width and of the irradiation power from the process constants which have been defined. A corresponding computer program product, a method for bed-based additive production, and a corresponding control device are adapted for pulsed irradiation in the additive production of a component structure.

A method for the computer-aided provision of control instructions for pulsed irradiation in the additive production of a component structure includes establishing process parameters, including a pulse frequency, a pulse width, a scan speed, and an irradiation power; defining the pulse frequency and scan speed as process constants; and determining parameter values of the pulse width and of the irradiation power from the process constants which have been defined. A corresponding computer program product, a method for bed-based additive production, and a corresponding control device are adapted for pulsed irradiation in the additive production of a component structure.

A device (1) for the generative production of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer in a successive manner using at least one laser beam (5), comprising at least one device (4) for generating at least one laser beam (5) in order to selectively solidify individual construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer. The device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) that is arranged or can be arranged directly over the construction plane (9) on which solidified construction material layers or construction material layers to be solidified are selectively formed and is designed to generate a laser beam (5) directed directly onto the construction plane, and/or the device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) and at least one optical element (27).

An additive manufacturing method includes: forming a powder bed by supplying a raw material powder; and irradiating the raw material powder that forms the powder bed with a light beam having an intensity distribution of a second or higher order mode or of a top hat shape.