The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for removing dross from a liquid metal chamber, such as would be used in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) or metal 3D printing. The method and systems comprise inserting a dross removal tool into a liquid metal chamber. A seal is compromised, fluidically connecting an evacuated volume and the liquid metal chamber. Pressure equalizes between the fluidically coupled volumes through an inflow of gas, liquid, and solid components from the liquid metal chamber into the dross removal tool. The dross removal tool is removed from the liquid metal chamber.

A processing system includes: an irradiation part for irradiating an object with an energy beam; a powder supply part for supplying powder to a melt pool formed by an irradiation of the energy beam; an illumination apparatus for illuminating a position of a solidified part where the melt pool is solidified with a second light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of a first light emitted from the melt pool; an imaging apparatus for optically receive at least a part of the first light and at least a part of a third light from a part of the solidified part that is illuminated with the second light; and a display apparatus for displaying, based on an output of the imaging apparatus, an image related to the melt pool and the solidified part.

A processing system includes: an irradiation part for irradiating an object with an energy beam; a powder supply part for supplying powder to a melt pool formed by an irradiation of the energy beam; an illumination apparatus for illuminating a position of a solidified part where the melt pool is solidified with a second light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of a first light emitted from the melt pool; an imaging apparatus for optically receive at least a part of the first light and at least a part of a third light from a part of the solidified part that is illuminated with the second light; and a display apparatus for displaying, based on an output of the imaging apparatus, an image related to the melt pool and the solidified part.

An additive manufacturing apparatus, a computing system, and a method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus are provided. The method includes obtaining two or more images corresponding to respective build layers at a build plate, wherein each image comprises a plurality of data points comprising a feature and corresponding location at the build plate; removing variation between the features of the plurality of data points; and normalizing each feature to remove location dependence in the plurality of data points.

An additive manufacturing apparatus, a computing system, and a method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus are provided. The method includes obtaining two or more images corresponding to respective build layers at a build plate, wherein each image comprises a plurality of data points comprising a feature and corresponding location at the build plate; removing variation between the features of the plurality of data points; and normalizing each feature to remove location dependence in the plurality of data points.

A computer-implemented string based force component creation method for a three-dimensional (3D) printer that interacts with a three-dimensional (3D) printer that is installed in a printing apparatus and that prints an object, the method including attaching a string mechanism to the 3D printer, and creating a force component to support the 3D printer and the object via the string mechanism that is attached to the 3D printer.

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.

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.

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.

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.