A stabilization apparatus for reducing vibration of a 3D printer during operation thereof. A stabilization apparatus features a stationary framework having a base seated atop a support surface and spanning a greater two-dimensional footprint than the 3D printer. One or more flexible elongated suspenders each has one end connected to a respective anchor point each defined on the supportive framework at a respective location of elevated relation to an underside of the base. Another end of each suspender is secured either to the 3D printer itself, or to a floating support atop which the 3D printer is placed. The 3D printer is thereby supported in a floating position of suspended relation to the stationary framework of the stabilization apparatus.

A three-dimensional PBF-AM apparatus includes a stage on which a powder material is spread, and a tubular build box disposed in a state of surrounding the stage. The build box includes a side wall portion having a first tubular member surrounding the stage and a second tubular member surrounding the stage with the first tubular member interposed therebetween and forming a space with the first tubular member, and moreover, a vacuum heat insulating layer can be formed inside the side wall portion by vacuuming the space.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

A spatter protection system for an additive manufacturing machine can include a sheet configured to be disposed over a build area of the additive manufacturing machine. The sheet can include an aperture configured to allow a spatter from the build area to eject through the aperture during energy application and to land on a back side of the sheet to prevent the spatter from landing on the build area. The system can include a motive system supporting the sheet and configured to move the sheet to locate the aperture over an energy application area.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

Methods and apparatuses for replaceable beam entry windows in additive manufacturing systems are disclosed.

Additive-manufacturing systems, surface-processing apparatuses, and methods of forming products using an additive-manufacturing head are provided. In one aspect, an additive-manufacturing system includes an additive-manufacturing head and a surface-processing device coupled to the additive-manufacturing head. In another aspect, a surface-processing apparatus for an additive-manufacturing head includes a housing configured to be coupled to the additive-manufacturing head and a surface-processing device coupled to the housing. In a further aspect, a method of forming a product using an additive-manufacturing head includes forming one or more layers of the product with the additive-manufacturing head and processing at least one of the one or more layers of the product with a surface-processing device coupled to the additive-manufacturing head.

A removable build module to connect to a host apparatus, may include a build platform to support an object-to-be-built, a drive unit to move the build platform, a memory to receive and store build parameters, and an interface circuit to communicate the build parameters to the host apparatus.

The disclosure provides machines for manufacturing three-dimensional components by selectively solidifying powdery build-up material with a process beam in a process chamber, and methods of making the machines. The machine includes a machine base frame, wherein the machine base frame has a machine frame and a supporting frame which is attachable thereto, wherein the supporting frame accommodates at least one process chamber or at least one construction cylinder, and at least one interface is formed between the supporting frame and the machine frame, by which interface the supporting frame is held with respect to the machine frame.