In some examples, an additive manufacturing process may be operated by a method that includes depositing a plurality of preliminary layers of build material over a build surface and applying thermal energy governed by closed-loop control to heat the preliminary layers. The method includes analyzing a temperature distribution across a layer of the preliminary layers to map the locations of any hot spots relative to the build surface. The method includes selecting a spray pattern to apply a cooling agent to the mapped locations.

Described herein are compositions, methods, and systems for printing metal three-dimensional objects. In an example, described is a method of printing a three-dimensional object comprising: (i) depositing a metal powder build material, wherein the metal powder build material has an average particle size of from about 10 μm to about 250 μm; (ii) selectively applying a binder fluid on at least a portion of the metal powder build material, wherein the binder fluid comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle and latex polymer particles dispersed in the aqueous liquid vehicle; (iii) heating the selectively applied binder fluid on the metal powder build material to a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 180° C.; and (iv) repeating (i), (ii), and (iii) at least one time to form the three-dimensional object.

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction, and a compacting and/or smoothing element (45) arranged between the two recoating rollers (41, 42) in the first direction (B1) and extending into the second direction. The recoating unit (40) is adapted to draw-out building material to a regular layer (31a, 32a), depending on the movement of the recoating unit into the first direction (B1) or into its reverse direction (B2), using the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead in the respective moving direction (B1, B2), and to compact or smoothen the layer (31a, 32a) drawn-out by the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead using the compacting and/or smoothing element (45).

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction, and a compacting and/or smoothing element (45) arranged between the two recoating rollers (41, 42) in the first direction (B1) and extending into the second direction. The recoating unit (40) is adapted to draw-out building material to a regular layer (31a, 32a), depending on the movement of the recoating unit into the first direction (B1) or into its reverse direction (B2), using the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead in the respective moving direction (B1, B2), and to compact or smoothen the layer (31a, 32a) drawn-out by the recoating roller (41, 42) arranged ahead using the compacting and/or smoothing element (45).

A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction. At least one of the recoating rollers (41, 42), preferably both of the recoating rollers (41, 42) are formed adjustable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction in the recoating unit (40).

A laser beam is irradiated onto material powder on a manufacturing table to solidify the material powder and form a solidified layer. The material powder is further deposited on the solidified layer and the laser beam is irradiated onto one part of the material powder to solidify the material powder. They are repeated to manufacture a manufactured object. An irradiation output value of the laser beam is determined based on measurement information regarding a deposition surface before depositing the material powder or regarding a surface state of the material powder after deposition that is acquired by a camera. Alternatively, the aforementioned irradiation output value is determined based on parity information regarding a number of solidified layers that were already solidified by irradiation of the energy beam, or determined in accordance with an irradiation output value used when solidifying a solidified layer solidified prior to deposition of the deposited material powder.

Selective laser solidification apparatus is described that includes a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited and a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction. A laser scanning unit is provided for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form a required pattern. The required pattern is formed from a plurality of stripes or stripe segments that are formed by advancing the laser beam along the stripe or stripe segment in a stripe formation direction. The stripe formation direction is arranged so that it always at least partially opposes the predefined gas flow direction. A corresponding method is also described.

A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

A method, of manufacturing a series of objects is disclosed. In the method, a layer of a manufacturing medium is provided. Portions of the layer of the medium, are bond together at at least edge regions of the layer to form a support portion. The support portion is lowered while gripping the support portion by the edge regions of the layer. A further layer of the medium is provided supported by the support portion. Portions of the further layer of the medium are selectively bound to form at least an object portion. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a powdery filament composition for 3D printing, a 3D printer, and a method of additively manufacturing an object by the 3D printer, and more particularly to a powdery filament composition for 3D printing, which is suitable for home use because it does not produce toxic substances, a 3D printer, the size of which is suitable for home use because it does not require high power energy, high-temperature processing and the like conditions for additive manufacturing, and a method of additively manufacturing an object by the 3D printer.