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 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.

Systems, apparatus and methods of additively manufacturing objects are disclosed. Specifically, provided herein are methods of heating objects having a particle-based support at least partially surrounding the object during portions of stages of the heating. Additionally, systems, apparatus, and methods for removing the particle-based support during heating, such that the object can continue heating to form a final part. Systems, apparatus, and methods for distributing the particle-based support to shore the objects through heating are disclosed. Systems, apparatus, and methods for removing the particle-based support are also disclosed herein.

Systems, apparatus and methods of additively manufacturing objects are disclosed. Specifically, provided herein are methods of heating objects having a particle-based support at least partially surrounding the object during portions of stages of the heating. Additionally, systems, apparatus, and methods for removing the particle-based support during heating, such that the object can continue heating to form a final part. Systems, apparatus, and methods for distributing the particle-based support to shore the objects through heating are disclosed. Systems, apparatus, and methods for removing the particle-based support are also disclosed herein.

A de-powdering basket comprises an enclosure of at least one side wall and a bottom wall. The enclosure is configured such that, when the enclosure is disposed within a build box, the outer surfaces of the at least one side wall are substantially adjacent to the interior walls of the build box. The enclosure further comprises one or more apertures disposed within the at least one side wall, each of the apertures comprising a void that extends through the at least one side wall from an interior surface of the side wall to an exterior surface of the side wall. The enclosure may be configured to accommodate a build plate situated within the enclosure. Outer edges of the build plate may cooperate with inner surfaces of the side walls of the enclosure to prevent loose powder from passing between the outer edges of the build plate and the side walls.

A de-powdering basket comprises an enclosure of at least one side wall and a bottom wall. The enclosure is configured such that, when the enclosure is disposed within a build box, the outer surfaces of the at least one side wall are substantially adjacent to the interior walls of the build box. The enclosure further comprises one or more apertures disposed within the at least one side wall, each of the apertures comprising a void that extends through the at least one side wall from an interior surface of the side wall to an exterior surface of the side wall. The enclosure may be configured to accommodate a build plate situated within the enclosure. Outer edges of the build plate may cooperate with inner surfaces of the side walls of the enclosure to prevent loose powder from passing between the outer edges of the build plate and the side walls.

A method for preparing an oxygen-free passivated titanium or titanium-alloy powder product by means of gas-solid fluidization is provided. The new method includes placing the metal halide and the titanium powder which meet formula requirements into a gasifier and a fluidized bed reactor respectively; heating the gasifier to gasify the metal halide, and introducing dry argon and halide gas into the fluidized bed reactor; opening the fluidized bed, heating the fluidized bed, fluidizing the titanium powder after the introduction of the argon and the metal halide gas, and cooling the product to obtain the titanium powder subjected to oxygen-free passivation using metal chloride; molding the oxygen-free passivated titanium powder into a green body with powder metallurgy technology; and sintering the green body in vacuum or argon atmosphere according to the molding technology, and after temperature rise treatment, performing a densification sintering operation to obtain a high-performance titanium product component.

A fluidized powder additive manufacturing system can include a container defining a powder volume configured to hold a powder, a fluidizer attached to and/or disposed on or within the container, the fluidizer configured to fluidize the powder within the powder volume to form a fluidized powder, and a build area assembly disposed within the container. The build area assembly can include a build surface, and a movement system attached to the build surface and configured to move the build surface within the powder volume when the powder is fluidized.

A fluidized powder additive manufacturing system can include a container defining a powder volume configured to hold a powder, a fluidizer attached to and/or disposed on or within the container, the fluidizer configured to fluidize the powder within the powder volume to form a fluidized powder, and a build area assembly disposed within the container. The build area assembly can include a build surface, and a movement system attached to the build surface and configured to move the build surface within the powder volume when the powder is fluidized.

An ejector for jetting modified metal is disclosed. The ejector for jetting modified metal also includes a nozzle orifice in connection with the inner cavity and configured to eject one or more droplets of liquid metal. The ejector for jetting modified metal includes a first gas source associated with the inner cavity and an external portion of the nozzle. The ejector for jetting modified metal also includes a second gas source coupled to the first gas source and in proximity to an external portion of the nozzle orifice.