Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a plasma electron source apparatus. The apparatus comprises a cathode discharge chamber in which a plasma is generated, an exit hole provided in said cathode discharge chamber from which electrons from the plasma are extracted by an accelerating field provided between said cathode discharge chamber and an anode, at least one plasma confinement device, and a switching mechanism for switching the at least one plasma confinement device between a first value allowing for electron extraction from the plasma and a second value prohibiting electron extraction from the plasma. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, which method comprises the following steps: successive application of powder layers to a working area (5), and fusing together successive layers of said three-dimensional object (6) by successively irradiating the powdery layers with said beam (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of at least one layer of a powder bed provided on a work table. Said method comprising the steps of: providing at least a first and second powder tank, providing a first type of powder in said first powder tank having a first particle size distribution, providing a second type of powder in said second powder tank having a second particle size distribution, providing a first sub-layer of said first type of powder on said work table, providing a second sub-layer of said second type of powder on top of said first layer of said first type of powder, fusing said first and second sub-layers simultaneously with a high energy beam from a high energy beam source for forming a first cross section of said three-dimensional article.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of at least one layer of a powder bed provided on a work table. Providing at least one rotatable powder container above said work table, said powder container comprising at least one exit for providing powder to a powder table arranged beside said work table, at least one opening inside said container is spatially separated from and connected to said at least one exit. Ejecting a fixed amount of powder from said powder container during at least one predetermined segment of rotational angles of said powder container, from the exit of said powder container onto said powder table, wherein said fixed amount is determined by the shape and size of the at least one opening inside said container. Distributing said powder onto said work table with a powder distributor.

Abstract: A method for increasing the resolution when forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, said method comprising providing a vacuum chamber, providing an electron gun, providing a first powder layer on a work table inside said vacuum chamber, directing an electron beam from said electron gun over said work table causing the powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, providing a second powder layer on said work table, directing the electron beam over said work table causing said second powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a second cross section of said three-dimensional article, reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber from a first pressure level to a second pressure level between the providing of said first powder layer and said second powder layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, said method comprising the steps of: providing a model of said three dimensional article, providing a first powder layer on a work table, directing a first energy beam from a first energy beam source over said work table causing said first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to said model to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, directing a second energy beam from a second energy beam source over said work table causing said first powder layer to fuse in second selected locations according to said model to form the first cross section of said three-dimensional article, wherein said first and second locations of said first powder layer are at least partially overlapping each other.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method and apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of at least one layer of a powder bed provided on a work table in an additive manufacturing machine, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article. The method comprises the steps of: applying a layer of predetermined thickness of powder particles on the work table, applying a coating on at least a portion of the powder particles, which coating is at least partially covering the powder particles, and fusing the powder particles on the work table with an electron beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming at least one three-dimensional article by fusing parts of a powder bed layer-wise. The apparatus comprising a powder distributor and an energy beam for fusing the powder layer. Said powder distributor comprises a first part being an elongated rod provided movable at a predetermined distance above the powder bed and with its central axis in parallel with a top surface of said work table and second part being a metal foil having at least a first and a second opposite edge portions. Said metal foil is provided between said elongated rod and said work table, said first and second opposite edge portions are attached to said elongated rod so that a distance between said first and second edge portions is smaller than the distance between said first and second edge portions of said metal foil when said metal foil is in a flat position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for production of a three-dimensional body by successively providing powder layers and fusing together of selected areas of said layers, which areas correspond to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional body, wherein the method comprises the following steps for at least one of said layers: applying the at least one powder layer onto a working area, and fusing together a selected area of the at least one powder layer by supplying energy from a radiation gun to the selected area.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a plasma electron source apparatus. The apparatus comprises a cathode discharge chamber in which a plasma is generated, an exit hole provided in said cathode discharge chamber from which electrons from the plasma are extracted by an accelerating field provided between said cathode discharge chamber and an anode, at least one plasma confinement device, and a switching mechanism for switching the at least one plasma confinement device between a first value allowing for electron extraction from the plasma and a second value prohibiting electron extraction from the plasma. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method for providing safety protection in an additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed in an enclosable chamber, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a position detecting device connected to a control unit to detect whether a foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber. The method may also include, upon detecting that the foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber, either (1) switching off, via the control unit, at least one device associated with the additive manufacturing apparatus; or (2) providing power to a powder suction device. Associated safety protection devices are also provided.

Abstract: A method for providing safety protection in an additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed in an enclosable chamber, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a position detecting device connected to a control unit to detect whether a foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber. The method may also include, upon detecting that the foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber, either (1) switching off, via the control unit, at least one device associated with the additive manufacturing apparatus; or (2) providing power to a powder suction device. Associated safety protection devices are also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus (1) for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, such as electromagnetic radiation or an electron beam, said apparatus (1) comprising: a working area (3) onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit (11) comprising a base surface (13) for supporting a supply of powder (2); and a powder distribution member (6); wherein the base surface (13) extends along a side of the working area (3), wherein the distribution member (6) extends in a direction along the base surface (13) and said side of the working area (3) and is arranged to be moveable in a plane above, and substantially parallel to, the base surface (13) and the working area (3), and wherein the distribution member (6) is arranged to be moveable into a supply of powder (2) placed onto the base surface (13) such as to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from a side of the distributi

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (3) layer by layer using a powdery material (5) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising an electron gun for generating said energy beam and a working area onto which the powdery material is distributed and over which the energy beam sweeps during irradiation. The invention is characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a system for feeding controlled amounts of a reactive gas into the apparatus such as to contact the reactive gas with material positioned on the working area, said reactive gas being capable of, at least when having been exposed to the energy beam, reacting chemically and/or physically with the material positioned on the working area. The invention also concerns a method for operating an apparatus of the above type.

Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material which is capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy beam is disclosed. The method comprises homogeneously pre-heating the powder material by scanning with the high-energy beam along predetermined paths over a pre-heating area so that consecutive paths are separated by a minimum security distance which is adapted to prevent undesirable summation effects in the pre-heating area, and then solidifying the powder material by fusing together the powder material. Apparatus for producing such three-dimensional objects is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material which is capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy beam is disclosed. The method comprises homogeneously pre-heating the powder material by scanning with the high-energy beam along predetermined paths over a pre-heating area so that consecutive paths are separated by a minimum security distance which is adapted to prevent undesirable summation effects in the pre-heating area, and then solidifying the powder material by fusing together the powder material. Apparatus for producing such three-dimensional objects is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material (7) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam (4), said method comprising the steps of: applying a first layer of powdery material onto a working area (5); solidifying a part of said first layer by irradiating it with a high-energy beam; and applying a second layer (8) of powdery material onto the first, partly solidified layer. The invention is characterized in that the method comprises the step of: determining a rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer. The invention also concerns an apparatus configured to operate according to the above method.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods feed and distribute a powder over a working area used for producing three-dimensional objects. A powder storage unit contains a supply of powder, and a distribution member is arranged to be moveable across the working area to distribute a portion of powder onto the working area. In an embodiment, the distribution member is, in a first step, moveable a predetermined distance into a supply of powder placed in the powder storage unit, said distance being sufficiently long to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from the powder supply at one side of the distribution member to another side of the distribution member facing the working area, and the distribution member is, in a second step, moveable towards and across the working area to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for production of three-dimensional bodies by successive fusing together of selected areas of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional body, which method comprises the following method steps: application of powder layers to a work table, supplying energy from a radiation gun according to an operating scheme determined for the powder layer to said selected area within the powder layer, fusing together that area of the powder layer selected according to said operating scheme for forming a cross section of said three-dimensional body, a three-dimensional body being formed by successive fusing together of successively formed cross sections from successively applied powder layers.