Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip with pre-formed teeth within a powder bed, forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a main chamber with a gas inlet and a powder outlet. At least one secondary chamber is configured to receive powder. The powder feeder also includes a shaver element. The shaver element is positioned directly above an opening in the at least one secondary chamber. The secondary chamber further includes a piston movable towards the shaver element so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw, a conveyor belt, and a rotating disc with protrusions.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip (30) with pre-formed teeth (32) within a powder bed (20), forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

Abstract: There is provided a powder feeder (10, 10?) comprising a main chamber (12, 12?) with a gas inlet (14, 14?) and a powder outlet (16), at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?) configured to receive powder and a shaver element (22, 40, 50), wherein the shaver element (22, 40, 50) is positioned directly above an opening (26, 26?) in the at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?). The secondary chamber (20, 20?) further comprises a piston (28, 28?) movable towards the shaver element (22, 40, 50) so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw (22), a conveyor belt (40) and a rotating disc (50) with protrusions (54).

Abstract: There is provided a powder feeder (10, 10?) comprising a main chamber (12, 12?) with a gas inlet (14, 14?) and a powder outlet (16), at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?) configured to receive powder and a shaver element (22, 40, 50), wherein the shaver element (22, 40, 50) is positioned directly above an opening (26, 26?) in the at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?). The secondary chamber (20, 20?) further comprises a piston (28, 28?) movable towards the shaver element (22, 40, 50) so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw (22), a conveyor belt (40) and a rotating disc (50) with protrusions (54).

Abstract: There is provided a carbide material (34) comprising Tungsten Carbide of 60 to 85 weight %, Titanium Carbides of 10 to 25 weight % and preferably a metal matrix of 0.5 to 20 weight % comprising Fe and optionally at least one or both of the metals Co or Ni. There is also provided a device comprising a ferrous substrate and such a carbide material and a method of manufacturing a device, the method comprising mixing powders comprising Carbon, Tungsten and a scavenger material such as Titanium, placing the mixed powders proximal a ferrous substrate (10), impinging an energy source (31) onto the powdered materials to create a melt pool (32) formed of the powders and the material of the substrate, and allowing the melt pool to solidify to form a carbide material (34) substantially free from Iron Tungsten carbides of (W, Fe)6C and (W, Fe)12C type.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip (30) with pre-formed teeth (32) within a powder bed (20), forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.