Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to implement and operate an additive manufacturing machine with focal length error determination and correction. An example apparatus includes a main laser to create a main laser beam of the AM machine, the main laser beam used to fuse particle powder together in an AM process; a focus unit to focus the main laser beam at a specified distance, the focus unit also including a measurement beam; a semi-transparent mirror to split a backreflected signal, created from a reflection of the measurement beam from a powder surface, from the measurement beam; and a sensor element to measure a focal distance error from the backreflected signal. The example apparatus can also include a measurement laser to generate a measurement laser beam with the main laser beam.

Abstract: A process monitoring system for an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a scanner, a sensor device, and an optical focus-tracking device. The scanner includes an optical adjustment device that directs a melting beam emitted by a laser melting device onto a construction plane to generate a melting section of the construction plane. The sensor device may detect reflected radiation from the melting section and generate sensor data indicative of a size, shape, and/or temperature corresponding to the melting section. The optical focus-tracking device includes a focusing lens located between the scanner and the sensor device. The focusing lens may be actuatable by electronic machine data derived from the sensor data to impart a first focus adjustment with respect to the reflected radiation detected by the sensor followed by a second focus adjustment with respect to the melting beam directed by the optical adjustment device.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a laser beam source emitting a laser beam, a build platform, a powder source depositing a layer of powder onto the build platform, and a scanning assembly disposed along an optical path between the laser beam source and the build platform. The scanning assembly comprises at least one solid state optical deflector that modifies at least one of a size or an impingement location of the laser beam on the layer of powder at a scanning position of the laser beam. The at least one solid state optical deflector may be used to heat treat the layer of powder either before or after the powder is melted.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system configured to emit an energy beam utilized in an additive manufacturing process, and one or more optical elements utilized by, or defining a portion of, the energy beam system and/or an imaging system of the additive manufacturing machine. The imaging system monitors one or more operating parameters of the additive manufacturing process. A light source is configured to emit an assessment beam that follows an optical path incident upon the one or more optical elements. One or more light sensors detect a reflected beam comprising at least a portion of the assessment beam at a perimeter edge of the one or more optical elements. A control system determines, based at least in part on assessment data comprising data from the one or more light sensors, whether at least one of the one or more optical elements exhibits an optical anomaly.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a laser beam source emitting a laser beam, a build platform, a powder source depositing a layer of powder onto the build platform, and a scanning assembly disposed along an optical path between the laser beam source and the build platform. The scanning assembly comprises at least one solid state optical deflector that modifies at least one of a size or an impingement location of the laser beam on the layer of powder at a scanning position of the laser beam. The at least one solid state optical deflector may be used to heat treat the layer of powder either before or after the powder is melted.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system configured to emit an energy beam utilized in an additive manufacturing process, and first and second optical elements utilized by, or defining a portion of, the energy beam system and/or an imaging system of the additive manufacturing machine. The imaging system monitors one or more operating parameters of the additive manufacturing process. A light source is configured to emit an assessment beam that follows an optical path incident upon the first and second optical elements. One or more light sensors detect a reflected beam that is either internally reflected by the first optical element or reflectively propagated between the first and second optical elements. A control system determines, based at least in part on assessment data comprising data from the one or more light sensors, whether at least one of the first and second optical elements exhibits an optical anomaly.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system situated in a fixed position relative to a reference plane coinciding with an expected location of a build plane, an energy beam system with an irradiation device configured to generate an energy beam and to direct the energy beam upon the build plane, and a position measurement system configured to determine a position of the build plane. A position measurement assembly includes one or more position sensors, and one or more mounting brackets configured to attach the one or more position sensors to an energy beam system of an additive manufacturing machine. The position measurement assembly is configured to determine a position of a build plane with the energy beam system situated in a fixed position relative to a reference plane coinciding with an expected location of the build plane.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system situated in a fixed position relative to a reference plane coinciding with an expected location of a build plane, an energy beam system with an irradiation device configured to generate an energy beam and to direct the energy beam upon the build plane, and a position measurement system configured to determine a position of the build plane. A position measurement assembly includes one or more position sensors, and one or more mounting brackets configured to attach the one or more position sensors to an energy beam system of an additive manufacturing machine. The position measurement assembly is configured to determine a position of a build plane with the energy beam system situated in a fixed position relative to a reference plane coinciding with an expected location of the build plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the additive manufacturing of at least one three-dimensional object (2) by selectively compacting layer by layer at least one compactible building material (3) by means of at least one energy beam (5) generated by at least one radiation generating device (4), comprising at least one radiation generating device (4) for generating at least one energy beam (5) for compacting at least one compactible building material (3), at least one coating device (8) for carrying out at least one coating operation to apply a defined building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) to a building plane (10) or to a building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) that has previously been applied in the course of carrying out a previous coating operation, and also at least one recording device (11) for recording layer information describing, at least for certain portions, the quality, in particular of the surface, of a buildin

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may include allocating irradiation of respective ones of a plurality of sequential layers of construction material between a first region and a second region based at least in part on a first irradiation time and/or a second irradiation time. Irradiation of the first region is allocated to a first scanner and the first irradiation time is indicative of a time required for the first scanner to irradiate the first region with respect to at least one of the plurality of sequential layers of construction material. Irradiation of the second region is allocated to a second scanner and the second irradiation time is indicative of a time required for the second scanner to irradiate the second region with respect to at least one of the plurality of sequential layers of construction material. The first irradiation time and the second irradiation time may be at least approximately the same.

Abstract: A system (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising one or more working stations (21), which are provided for performing at least one working process in the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, at least one freely positionable mobile storage unit (2) comprising a rack-like storage device (4) comprising at least one storage room (5) provided for storing at least one powder module (6), especially for the purpose of conveying the powder module (6) between different working stations (21) of the system (1), and at least one driverless, freely movable mobile conveying unit (3) comprising a receiving device (12) provided for receiving at least one mobile storage unit (2) for the purpose of conveying the storage unit (2) between different working stations (21) of the system (1).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for the additive manufacturing of at least one three-dimensional object (2) by selectively compacting layer by layer at least one compactible building material (3) by means of at least one energy beam (5) generated by at least one radiation generating device (4), comprising at least one radiation generating device (4) for generating at least one energy beam (5) for compacting at least one compactible building material (3), at least one coating device (8) for carrying out at least one coating operation to apply a defined building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) to a building plane (10) or to a building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) that has previously been applied in the course of carrying out a previous coating operation, and also at least one recording device (11) for recording layer information describing.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of at least one energy beam (4), which apparatus (1) comprises an irradiation device (5) with at least one beam guiding element (7) on which the energy beam (4) is partially reflected, wherein a first beam part (10) extends between the beam guiding element (7) and a build plane (18) of the apparatus (1) and a second beam part (11) is transmitted through or scattered at the beam guiding element (7), wherein a determination device (12) is provided that is adapted to determine at least one parameter of the second beam part (11).

Abstract: An irradiation assembly for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an irradiation device and a magnetic mounting device configured to displaceably support the irradiation device. The irradiation device may include one or more illumination elements respectively configured to emit an energy beam. The magnetic mounting device may include a magnetic slider element coupled to the irradiation device and a magnetic stator element couplable to a housing structure of an additive manufacturing machine. The magnetic stator element may include a displacement track configured to guide the magnetic slider element along a movement path above at least a portion of a construction plane of the additive manufacturing machine while the one or more illumination elements respectively emit the energy beam to selectively irradiate build material at specified regions of the construction plane.

Abstract: A system (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising one or more working stations (21), which are provided for performing at least one working process in the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, at least one freely positionable mobile storage unit (2) comprising a rack-like storage device (4) comprising at least one storage room (5) provided for storing at least one powder module (6), especially for the purpose of conveying the powder module (6) between different working stations (21) of the system (1), and at least one driverless, freely movable mobile conveying unit (3) comprising a receiving device (12) provided for receiving at least one mobile storage unit (2) for the purpose of conveying the storage unit (2) between different working stations (21) of the system (1).

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system configured to emit an energy beam utilized in an additive manufacturing process, and first and second optical elements utilized by, or defining a portion of, the energy beam system and/or an imaging system of the additive manufacturing machine. The imaging system monitors one or more operating parameters of the additive manufacturing process. A light source is configured to emit an assessment beam that follows an optical path incident upon the first and second optical elements. One or more light sensors detect a reflected beam that is either internally reflected by the first optical element or reflectively propagated between the first and second optical elements. A control system determines, based at least in part on assessment data comprising data from the one or more light sensors, whether at least one of the first and second optical elements exhibits an optical anomaly.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine may include an energy beam system configured to emit an energy beam utilized in an additive manufacturing process, and one or more optical elements utilized by, or defining a portion of, the energy beam system and/or an imaging system of the additive manufacturing machine. The imaging system may be configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the additive manufacturing process. The additive manufacturing machine may include a light source configured to emit an assessment beam that follows an optical path incident upon the one or more optical elements, and one or more light sensors configured to detect a reflected beam comprising at least a portion of the assessment beam reflected and/or transmitted by at least one of the one or more optical elements.

Abstract: An unpacking device (4) for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, wherein the unpacking device (4) is formed as a robot (7) having at least three robot axes (A1-A6), especially an industrial robot, wherein at least one unpacking tool (10) is arranged or formed on a robot axis (A6), which is provided for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, or the unpacking device (4) comprises at least one such robot (7).

Abstract: An unpacking device (4) for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, wherein the unpacking device (4) is formed as a robot (7) having at least three robot axes (A1-A6), especially an industrial robot, wherein at least one unpacking tool (10) is arranged or formed on a robot axis (A6), which is provided for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, or the unpacking device (4) comprises at least one such robot (7).

Abstract: A device for producing three-dimensional objects by successively solidifying layers of a construction material that can be solidified using radiation on the positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, with a housing comprising a process chamber, a construction container situated therein, an irradiation device for irradiating layers of the construction material on the positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, an application device for applying the layers of the construction material onto a carrying device within the construction container or a previously formed layer, a metering device for delivering the construction material, wherein the application device comprises a coating element which distributes the construction material delivered by the metering device as a thin layer in an application area along a linear application movement, wherein at the end of a coating process for a layer when returning the coating element 11 to a coating starting position.