Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprising: (a) performing an additive manufacturing process to firm an article in an initial state, the article comprising mounting features and being supported during the additive manufacturing process by support structures; and (b) performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which second manufacturing process is a subtractive process comprising: (i) mounting, via the mounting features formed during the additive manufacturing process, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, with the support structures or at least remnants thereof remaining on the article, and (ii) with the article so mounted in the holding device, processing at least one feature on a surface of the article on which the support structures were provided to remove material on the at least one feature provided by the support structures.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, comprising taking an article formed in an initial state via an additive manufacturing process and performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which comprises mounting the article in a holding device, processing at least one first feature on the article, which comprises processing at least one set of mounting features on the article, re-mounting the article via the at least one set of mounting features, and then processing at least one second feature on the article.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprising: (a) performing an additive manufacturing process to firm an article in an initial state, the article comprising mounting features and being supported during the additive manufacturing process by support structures; and (h) performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which second manufacturing process is a subtractive process comprising: (i) mounting, via the mounting features formed during the additive manufacturing process, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, with the support structures or at least remnants thereof remaining on the article, and (ii) with the article so mounted in the holding device, processing at least one feature on a surface of the article on which the support structures were provided to remove material on the at least one feature provided by the support structures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article including taking an article in an initial state formed using an additive manufacturing process, the article including at least one set of mounting features; performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which includes mounting, via the at least one set of mounting features, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, wherein the position and orientation of the article in three linear and three rotational degrees of freedom within the machine operating volume is known and defined by virtue of the interaction of the mounting features with the holding device, and processing at least one feature on the article. The at least one mounting feature includes kinematic mount features which engage with corresponding kinematic mount features on the holding device of the machine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, comprising taking an article formed in an initial state via an additive manufacturing process and performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which comprises mounting the article in a holding device, processing at least one first feature on the article, which comprises processing at least one set of mounting features on the article, re-mounting the article via the at least one set of mounting features, and then processing at least one second feature on the article.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, including taking an article formed in an initial state via an additive manufacturing process and performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which includes mounting the article in a holding device, processing at least one first feature on the article, which includes processing at least one set of mounting features on the article, re-mounting the article via the at least one set of mounting features, and then processing at least one second feature on the article.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article (such as a dental restoration) comprising taking an article, comprising at least one product (such as a dental restoration), in an initial state, formed from a powdered material, layer-by-layer and electrochemically processing at least a select region of the at least one product (such as a dental restoration) so as to smoothen at least said select region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article including taking an article in an initial state formed using an additive manufacturing process, the article including at least one set of mounting features; performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which includes mounting, via the at least one set of mounting features, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, wherein the position and orientation of the article in three linear and three rotational degrees of freedom within the machine operating volume is known and defined by virtue of the interaction of the mounting features with the holding device, and processing at least one feature on the article. The at least one mounting feature includes kinematic mount features which engage with corresponding kinematic mount features on the holding device of the machine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, including taking an article formed in an initial state via an additive manufacturing process and performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which includes mounting the article in a holding device, processing at least one first feature on the article, which includes processing at least one set of mounting features on the article, re-mounting the article via the at least one set of mounting features, and then processing at least one second feature on the article.

Abstract: The surface of a dental part is scanned by a probe, to obtain a digital model of the surface in a dental CAD computer system. In the digital model, first and second boundary lines are defined, above and below a portion in which the scanned data is missing or unsatisfactory. One of the boundary lines may correspond to a margin line between prepared and unprepared portions of the patient's tooth. A transition surface is generated in the computer system, extending between the first and second boundary lines. This improves the representation of the dental part in the digital model, which may subsequently be used for manufacture of a dental restoration.