A fabrication of a build structure by an additive layer manufacturing machine is assessed and controlled. A first portion of a first material is selectively heated to form a first formed layer of the build structure having a first thickness. An image of a predefined region of the first formed layer is generated. The image depicts topographical characteristics within the predefined region of the first formed layer. A subsequent portion of the first or a second material is selectively heated to form a subsequent formed layer of the build structure attached to the first formed layer. The subsequent formed layer has a second thickness that correlates with the depicted topographical characteristics.

A device and method of forming a three-dimensional component includes filling a reservoir (26) with a volume of curable resin (30), the resin configured to undergo a first reaction to form a first product when exposed to light (42) of a first wavelength and to undergo a second reaction to form a second product when exposed to light (62) of a second wavelength. The presence of the first and second products at a common location in the resin causes a third reaction that results in a solid polymer at the common location. The method further includes directing a first light source (34) of the first wavelength into the reservoir, directing a second light source (54) of the second wavelength into the reservoir such that the first and second light sources intersect at a first predetermined location (78) within the reservoir, and allowing the third reaction to form the solid polymer at the first predetermined location.

A device and method of forming a three-dimensional component includes filling a reservoir (26) with a volume of curable resin (30), the resin configured to undergo a first reaction to form a first product when exposed to light (42) of a first wavelength and to undergo a second reaction to form a second product when exposed to light (62) of a second wavelength. The presence of the first and second products at a common location in the resin causes a third reaction that results in a solid polymer at the common location. The method further includes directing a first light source (34) of the first wavelength into the reservoir, directing a second light source (54) of the second wavelength into the reservoir such that the first and second light sources intersect at a first predetermined location (78) within the reservoir, and allowing the third reaction to form the solid polymer at the first predetermined location.

An additive manufacturing system may include an irradiation device configured to emit an energy beam having a manufacturing power level selected to additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by irradiating a powder material, and a controller configured to perform one or more beam alignment operations when irradiating the powder material. The irradiation device may include a beam source, one or more beam positioning elements, a beam splitter configured to split a measurement beam from the energy beam, and one or more beam sensors configured to determine one or more parameters of the measurement beam. The one or more beam alignment operations may include determining position information of the energy beam based on the one or more parameters of the measurement beam, and aligning the energy beam with an optical axis of the irradiation device by adjusting a position of the one or more beam positioning elements based on the position information.

An additive manufacturing system may include an irradiation device configured to emit an energy beam having a manufacturing power level selected to additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by irradiating a powder material, and a controller configured to perform one or more beam alignment operations when irradiating the powder material. The irradiation device may include a beam source, one or more beam positioning elements, a beam splitter configured to split a measurement beam from the energy beam, and one or more beam sensors configured to determine one or more parameters of the measurement beam. The one or more beam alignment operations may include determining position information of the energy beam based on the one or more parameters of the measurement beam, and aligning the energy beam with an optical axis of the irradiation device by adjusting a position of the one or more beam positioning elements based on the position information.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing three-dimensional models using a radiation-emitting set and optionally a specific arrangement of radiation-emitting units.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing three-dimensional models using a radiation-emitting set and optionally a specific arrangement of radiation-emitting units.

The invention relates to a 3D printer having an advantageous irradiation device, and a method for 3D printing. The irradiation device is an array of multiple irradiation units each of which is individually controllable with regard to its temperature. According to an embodiment, a subset of irradiation units is combined to a group, each group of irradiation units being controllable with regard to its temperature. The target temperature of the irradiation units at the edges can be set to a temperature that is higher than the target temperature of the irradiation units in the remaining area.

The invention relates to a 3D printer having an advantageous irradiation device, and a method for 3D printing. The irradiation device is an array of multiple irradiation units each of which is individually controllable with regard to its temperature. According to an embodiment, a subset of irradiation units is combined to a group, each group of irradiation units being controllable with regard to its temperature. The target temperature of the irradiation units at the edges can be set to a temperature that is higher than the target temperature of the irradiation units in the remaining area.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, an additive manufacturing device is described. The additive manufacturing device includes a build material distributor to deposit layers of powdered build material onto a bed. At least one energy source selectively fuses portions of the layer of powdered build material to form a slice of a three-dimensional (3D) printed object. A detailing agent distributor of the additive manufacturing device generates a uniform property distribution across a portion of the layer of powdered build material by depositing a detailing agent.