Abstract: A contact tip assembly having an electric contact unit containing a contact tip with an electric energy source, where the electric contact unit is positioned at a distance away from the outlet opening of a guide. The contact tip may be a replaceable tip that is biased or pressed into contact with a feed wire to apply a current from the electric energy source to the feed wire.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for regulation of mass flow and monitoring of volumetric flow, for regulation of volumetric flow and monitoring of mass flow, and for regulation of both mass and volumetric flow of gas to a plasma torch for wire-plasma arc additive manufacturing processes, and methods for manufacturing metal objects by additive manufacturing using one or more of the systems.

Abstract: Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

Abstract: Provided are a mount system and systems and methods using the mount system for manufacturing objects, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, by directed energy deposition. The methods include thermally pre-bending the substrate onto which the object is to be manufactured to form a pre-bent substrate, attaching the pre-bent substrate to a jig using the mount system as an underlying support, pre-heating the substrate, and forming the object on the pre-heated, pre-bent substrate using a directed energy deposition technique.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a sensing system for determining a position of a feature of an object includes defining reference positions within a three-dimensional reference system; determining corresponding positions within an image frame of an image sensor and positions within a sensor frame of a further sensor; and generating a mapping linking the reference positions and the positions. A position of the feature of the object may be determined based on the mapping. There is also provided a method for monitoring a workpiece, the method comprising: obtaining shortwave infrared images; determining a corresponding image position of a feature of the workpiece or of an automated welding system using a machine-learned model; and determining a position of the feature.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a sensing system for determining a position of a feature of an object includes defining reference positions within a three-dimensional reference system; determining corresponding positions within an image frame of an image sensor and positions within a sensor frame of a further sensor; and generating a mapping linking the reference positions and the positions. A position of the feature of the object may be determined based on the mapping. There is also provided a method for monitoring a workpiece, the method comprising: obtaining shortwave infrared images; determining a corresponding image position of a feature of the workpiece or of an automated welding system using a machine-learned model; and determining a position of the feature.

Abstract: Provided are a systems and methods for continuously providing a metal wire to a welding torch for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication to provide continuous deposition of metal to the freeform object, especially objects made with titanium or titanium alloy wire.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring a workpiece being manufactured using an automated welding system. These technologies can real-time monitor, read, or interrogate a workpiece or a substrate on which the workpiece is positioned, as the workpiece is moved past a directed energy source, or vice versa. The method can be used with an automated welding system for standoff distance monitoring and control, which can be responsive, dynamic, and in real-time. These technologies can use a feedback controller to responsively and dynamically control the standoff distance in real-time based on data from the standoff distance measurement system.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for regulation of mass flow and monitoring of volumetric flow, for regulation of volumetric flow and monitoring of mass flow, and for regulation of both mass and volumetric flow of gas to a plasma torch for wire-plasma arc additive manufacturing processes, and methods for manufacturing metal objects by additive manufacturing using one or more of the systems.

Abstract: Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

Abstract: Provided are a curved clamping mold and systems and methods using the curved clamping mold for manufacturing objects, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, by directed energy deposition. The methods include thermally pre-bending the substrate onto which the object is to be manufactured to form a pre-bent substrate, attaching the pre-bent substrate to a jig using the curved clamping mold as an underlying support, pre-heating the substrate, and forming the object on the pre-heated, pre-bent substrate using a directed energy deposition technique.

Abstract: Provided are a mount system and systems and methods using the mount system for manufacturing objects, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, by directed energy deposition. The methods include thermally pre-bending the substrate onto which the object is to be manufactured to form a pre-bent substrate, attaching the pre-bent substrate to a jig using the mount system as an underlying support, pre-heating the substrate, and forming the object on the pre-heated, pre-bent substrate using a directed energy deposition technique.

Abstract: Provided are a curved clamping mold and systems and methods using the curved clamping mold for manufacturing objects, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, by directed energy deposition. The methods include thermally pre-bending the substrate onto which the object is to be manufactured to form a pre-bent substrate, attaching the pre-bent substrate to a jig using the curved clamping mold as an underlying support, pre-heating the substrate, and forming the object on the pre-heated, pre-bent substrate using a directed energy deposition technique.

Abstract: Provided are a systems and methods for continuously providing a metal wire to a welding torch for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication to provide continuous deposition of metal to the freeform object, especially objects made with titanium or titanium alloy wire.

Abstract: Provided are a mount system and systems and methods using the mount system for manufacturing objects, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, by directed energy deposition. The methods include thermally pre-bending the substrate onto which the object is to be manufactured to form a pre-bent substrate, attaching the pre-bent substrate to a jig using the mount system as an underlying support, pre-heating the substrate, and forming the object on the pre-heated, pre-bent substrate using a directed energy deposition technique.

Abstract: Provided are a jet device and systems and methods using the jet device for manufacturing objects by additive manufacturing, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the jet device directs a cooling gas across a liquid molten pool, or to impinge on the liquid molten pool, or to impinge upon a solidified material adjacent to a liquid-solid boundary of the liquid molten pool, or to impinge on an as-solidified material, or any combination thereof, during the additive manufacturing process. The application of the cooling gas can result in an additively manufactured metal product having refined grain structure with a high proportion of the grains being approximately equiaxed, and can yield an additively manufactured product exhibiting improvements in strength, fatigue resistance, and durability.

Abstract: Provided is a chamber system for solid free form fabrication, the chamber system having a deposition chamber, a service chamber and one or more loading/unloading chambers. The chamber system allows for a more efficient and cost effective process to service the deposition apparatus, load holding substrates, and unload workpieces without requiring having to adjust the atmosphere in the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A contact tip assembly having an electric contact unit containing a contact tip with an electric energy source, where the electric contact unit is positioned at a distance away from the outlet opening of a guide.

Abstract: Provided are a systems and methods for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by using two separate heat sources, one heat source for heating the deposition area on the base material and one heat source for heating and melting a metallic material, such as a metal wire or a powdered metallic material.

Abstract: Provided is a fluid-cooled melting tool that can be used in methods and systems for manufacturing objects by additive manufacturing techniques, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects. In some configurations, the melting tool is configured to be a plasma transferred arc (PTA) torch and the deposition rate can be increased by increasing the flow rate of electric charge through the electrode made possible by the dual circuit cooling design of the torch. The fluid-cooled melting tools provided herein exhibit stable and repeatable PTA characteristics over wide range of current including current of 400 amps or more, whether pulsed or non-pulsed, and plasma gas flow inputs.