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.

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.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. By utilizing a microwave plasma, control over spheriodization and resulting microstructure can be tailored to meet desired demands.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. By utilizing a microwave plasma, control over spheriodization and resulting microstructure can be tailored to meet desired demands.

A method may comprise: placing a probe in a molten metal melt comprising a thixotropic metal alloy; injecting a gas into the molten metal melt to form a saturated slurry, the saturated slurry being at a temperature above a liquidus temperature of the thixotropic metal alloy after injecting the gas; removing the probe from the molten metal melt; and depositing the molten metal melt through an extruder of an additive manufacturing system.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for the production of at least one desired 3D object. The 3D printer system (e.g., comprising a processing chamber, build module, or an unpacking station) described herein may retain a desired (e.g., inert) atmosphere around the material bed and/or 3D object at multiple 3D printing stages. The 3D printer described herein comprises one or more build modules that may have a controller separate from the controller of the processing chamber. The 3D printer described herein comprises a platform that may be automatically constructed. The invention(s) described herein may allow the 3D printing process to occur for a long time without operator intervention and/or down time.

Provided is a chamber system for solid free form fabrication, the chamber system having a deposition chamber, a service chamber and one or more loading/unloading chambers. The chamber system allows for a more efficient and cost effective process to service the deposition apparatus, load holding substrates, and unload workpieces without requiring having to adjust the atmosphere in the deposition chamber.

The present invention provides a rare-earth sintered magnet that is characterized in that: R (R indicates one or more elements selected from rare-earth elements, wherein Nd is essential), T (T indicates one or more elements selected from iron-group elements, wherein Fe is essential), X (X indicates one or two elements selected from B and C, wherein B is essential), M.sup.1 (M.sup.1 indicates one or more elements selected from Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Mo, Sn, W, Pb, and Bi), 0.1 mass % or less of O, 0.05 mass % or less of N, and 0.07 mass % or less of C are contained; the average crystal grain size is 4.0 μm or less; and relational expression (1) 0.26×D+97≤Or≤0.26×D+99 is satisfied assuming that the degree of orientation is Or [%] and that the average crystal grain size is D [μm]. With this rare-earth sintered magnet, it is possible to achieve superior magnetic characteristics in which both high Br and high H.sub.cJ are achieved.

The present invention provides a rare-earth sintered magnet that is characterized in that: R (R indicates one or more elements selected from rare-earth elements, wherein Nd is essential), T (T indicates one or more elements selected from iron-group elements, wherein Fe is essential), X (X indicates one or two elements selected from B and C, wherein B is essential), M.sup.1 (M.sup.1 indicates one or more elements selected from Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Mo, Sn, W, Pb, and Bi), 0.1 mass % or less of O, 0.05 mass % or less of N, and 0.07 mass % or less of C are contained; the average crystal grain size is 4.0 μm or less; and relational expression (1) 0.26×D+97≤Or≤0.26×D+99 is satisfied assuming that the degree of orientation is Or [%] and that the average crystal grain size is D [μm]. With this rare-earth sintered magnet, it is possible to achieve superior magnetic characteristics in which both high Br and high H.sub.cJ are achieved.

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.