Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of cleaning a 3D object on a platform. The method comprises generating with a cleaning module a cleaning airflow to remove powder particles from a 3D object and an extraction airflow to extract any removed powder particles, determining a quantity of powder particles in the extraction airflow, and moving the cleaning module relative to the platform based on the determined quantity of powder particles.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process which comprises carrying out an additive manufacturing build process to create a build cake. The build cake comprises a build object and non-solidified build material and the build object is built in a build location within the build cake. The build cake is supported on a tray which comprises a mesh having openings therethrough. The tray also includes an object region and a restraining feature to restrain a build object within the object region. The process comprises performing a decake operation in which non-solidified build material from the build cake passes through the openings of the mesh and the object moves into contact with the tray in the object region so that the object is restrained within the object region of the tray by the restraining feature.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method of cleaning a 3D object on a platform. The method comprises generating with a cleaning module a cleaning airflow to remove powder particles from a 3D object and an extraction airflow to extract any removed powder particles, determining a quantity of powder particles in the extraction airflow, and moving the cleaning module relative to the platform based on the determined quantity of powder particles.