Abstract: An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together with an electron beam from an electron beam source so as to form the article according to a computer model thereof. The apparatus includes a chamber a chamber having a first section and a second section openly connected to each other. The first section is configured to receive the individual layers of powder material. The second section comprising an electron beam source, an electromagnetic focus coil having an axially extending, and a reflector coil. The electron beam source is configured to emit an electron beam to fuse the individual layers of powder material. The reflector coil is arranged radially outside the electromagnetic focus coil. The direction of windings of the reflector coil is opposite a direction of windings of the electromagnetic focus coil.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for calibrating for an electron beam additive manufacturing system. The electron beam manufacturing system includes electron beam guns. A calibration system includes an optical pyrometer. The optical pyrometer captures thermal radiation emitted from raw material. An analysis component is communicatively coupled to the optical pyrometer. The analysis component is programmed to determine calibration parameters from information from the optical pyrometer and a phase transition temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for estimating a powder layer thickness in an additive manufacturing machine when forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer. The method comprises applying a first powder layer and selectively melting the first powder layer and thereafter measuring the temperature of the first powder layer at a plurality of times. The method further comprises providing a mathematical function giving a reference temperature as a function of time based on the measured temperatures of the first powder layer, applying a second powder layer on top of the first powder layer and measuring the temperature of the second powder layer at a predetermined time, and estimating the powder layer thickness of the second powder layer based on the measured temperature of the second powder layer and the reference temperature calculated by means of the mathematical function for the predetermined time point.

Abstract: A method for determining a melt strategy for an additive manufacturing system comprises: receiving geometry data corresponding to a surface of a powder layer; populating the geometry data with melting points; assigning at least one treatment action to each melting point; assigning a melt parameter and a prerequisite thermal characteristic to each treatment action; generating a preliminary list; creating a revised order comprising a plurality of sequential unpopulated items; and populating the revised order by: identifying an earliest unpopulated item, determining if any treatment action comprises prerequisite thermal characteristics satisfied for a time of the earliest unpopulated item, assigning an assignment to the earliest unpopulated item; removing the treatment action comprising prerequisite thermal characteristics which are satisfied for the sequential time of the earliest unpopulated item from the preliminary list, classifying the earliest unpopulated item as a populated item, and returning to identify

Abstract: A method for controlling an energy beam in an additive manufacturing machine when forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers, which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the article. The method includes steps of radiating a powder layer by the energy beam and creating a set of images of the powder layer for a set of positions on the powder layer by detecting particles emitted, backscattered or reflected from the powder layer when being radiated, comparing data representing the set of images and reference data with each other for identifying a difference between the energy beam when used on the powder layer and the reference data, with respect to at least one energy beam parameter, and adjusting the energy beam based on such an identified difference between the energy beam when used on the powder layer and the reference data.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for calibrating and operating an additive manufacturing system are disclosed. A calibration system for an electron beam additive manufacturing system having a plurality of electron beam guns includes a calibration probe positioned in a build chamber of the electron beam additive manufacturing system, a sensing device positioned to measure and acquire a response generated as a result of impingement of electron beams emitted from the plurality of electron beam guns on the calibration probe, the sensing device generating a response signal as a result of the measured and acquired response, and an analysis component communicatively coupled to the sensing device and programmed to analyze and evaluate the response signal.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for a depowdering apparatus includes an abrasive material inlet fluidly connected to an abrasive material outlet and a fluid inlet fluidly connected to a fluid outlet, where the fluid outlet at least partially surrounds the abrasive material outlet. The fluid outlet is angled with respect to the abrasive material outlet and configured to emit a fluid stream directed to a focal point, the focal point being laterally spaced apart from the blast nozzle in a fluid flow direction.

Abstract: A device for viewing and/or illuminating a target surface in an evacuated chamber having condensable vapor therein, the device comprising: a first section with a through hole having a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening; and a second section having a chamber comprising a first portion with a first opening, a second portion with a second opening and a gas inlet, where the second opening is covered with a first window, said first section is attached with the first end to the first portion of the chamber allowing free passage between the chamber and the first section, said gas inlet is connectable to a gas reservoir for feeding a gas into the chamber for prohibiting the first window in the chamber for being contaminated of the condensable vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the apparatus comprising: a powder distributor configured for evenly distributing a layer of powder on top of a work table provided inside a build chamber; and at least one high energy beam source emanating at least one high energy beam configured for fusing the powder layer in selected locations corresponding to the cross section of the three-dimensional article, wherein the apparatus further comprising at least one target area arranged spaced apart from the layer of powder for emanating light when irradiated by the at least one high energy beam.

Abstract: Provided is an additive manufacturing apparatus for additive manufacturing of three dimensional objects by selectively solidifying a powder material layer by layer in a process chamber, wherein the apparatus comprises a powder distributor movable across a build area of a build tank for applying a layer of powder material thereon and a solidification device for selectively solidifying the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross section of the object to be manufactured and a control unit adapted to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object is completed, wherein at least one support structure for supporting the powder distributor and/or a bellows assembly associated there-with is connectable to a cooling/heating media supply outside the process chamber and the support structure and/or the bellows assembly is adapted for transporting the cooling/heating media to and from the powder distributor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of using of a focus lens in additive manufacturing for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion, with a high energy beam, of parts of at least one layer of a powder bed provided on a work table, which parts correspond to successive cross sections of the three dimensional article, said method comprising the step of: using said focus lens for varying a spot size of said high energy beam on said powder bed as a function of an already fused thickness of said three-dimensional article below said powder which is to be fused. The invention is also related to a method for forming a three dimensional article.

Abstract: A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of said three-dimensional article, moving a support structure in z-direction at a predetermined speed while rotating said support structure at a predetermined speed, directing a first and second energy beam causing said powder layer to fuse in first and second selected locations according to said model, wherein a first cover area of said first energy beam on said powder layer is arranged at a predetermined minimum distance and non-overlapping from a second cover area of said second energy beam on said powder layer, a trajectory of said first cover area and a trajectory of said second cover area are at least one of overlapping each other, abutting each other or separated to each other when said support structure is rotated a full lap.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a powder layer in additive manufacturing are disclosed. A method of monitoring a powder layer includes receiving image data corresponding the powder layer supported by a powder bed within a build chamber from imaging devices, determining leading and trailing regions of interest located adjacent to a leading end and a trailing end of the moving powder distributor, respectively, the leading and trailing regions of interest moving according to movement of the moving powder distributor, selecting at least one point located in the leading region of interest from the image data, determining first characteristics of the point, when the point is located within the trailing region of interest, determining second characteristics of the point, and comparing the first characteristics to the second characteristics.

Abstract: A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed on a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of the three-dimensional article, lowering the support structure a predetermined distance and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure, rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at selected locations of the first powder layer, the at least one first energy beam source causing the first powder layer on the stationary support structure which is stationary to fuse in the selected locations according to the model to form first portions of the three-dimensional article.

Abstract: Adjustable guide systems and additive manufacturing systems incorporating the same are disclosed. An adjustable guide system includes a first arm support coupled to a first end of a powder distributor in an additive manufacturing system, a second arm support coupled to a second end of the powder distributor opposite the first end, a plurality of shuttles, and a plurality of guide rails. Each one of the plurality of shuttles is pivotally coupled to the first arm support or the second arm support via one or more link arms. Each one of the plurality of guide rails supports a corresponding one of the plurality of shuttles thereon and allows each shuttle to move along the respective guide rail.

Abstract: Raw material devices, systems that incorporate raw material delivery devices, and methods of supplying raw material using the raw material devices. A raw material delivery device includes a hollow body comprising a first end and a second end, the second end disposed above the first end in a system vertical direction, an inlet disposed at the first end of the hollow body, an outlet disposed at the second end of the hollow body, and a stepped passageway disposed within the hollow body between the inlet and the outlet. The stepped passageway is configured to deliver raw material via one or more steps from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for selectively sintering a powder layer in additive manufacturing processes to achieve a desired heat conductivity are disclosed. A method includes distributing a powder layer in a build chamber, selectively sintering the powder layer to form a plurality of sintered areas and a plurality of non-sintered areas based on a thermal model, and melting a subset of the plurality of sintered areas.

Abstract: Calibration systems, additive manufacturing systems employing the same, and methods of calibrating include a plurality of electron beam guns. One calibration system includes an imaging device positioned to capture one or more images of an impingement of electron beams emitted from the plurality of electron beam guns on a surface within a build chamber of the electron beam additive manufacturing system and an analysis component communicatively coupled to the imaging device. The analysis component is programmed to receive image data corresponding to the one or more images, determine one or more calibration parameters from the image data, and transmit one or more instructions to the plurality of electron beam guns in accordance with the one or more calibration parameters.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a spot quality of an electron beam includes directing the electron beam to a first measurement point in a powder layer a plurality of times, adjusting a focus offset of the electron beam each of the plurality of times the electron beam is directed to the first measurement point, measuring x-ray emissions from the first measurement point each of the plurality of times the electron beam is directed to the first measurement point, and determining a drift in a focus or an intensity of the electron beam based on the measured x-ray emissions.

Abstract: A standard reference plate is configured for insertion into an additive manufacturing apparatus for calibrating an electron beam of the additive manufacturing apparatus. The standard reference plate includes a lower plate and an upper plate being essentially in parallel and attached spaced apart from each other, the upper plate including a plurality of holes. A predetermined hollow pattern is provided inside the holes, and a spacing between the holes and the size of the holes and a distance between the upper plate and the lower plate and a position of an x-ray sensor of the additive manufacturing apparatus with respect to the standard reference plate are arranged so that x-rays emanating from the lower plate, when the electron beam is passing through a hollow part of the hollow pattern, will not pass directly from the lower plate through any one of the holes to the x-ray sensor.