Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, comprising: a carrier (12) adapted to receive material (14) for producing the workpiece; at least one mobile production unit (24), a moving unit (18) that is adapted to move the mobile production unit (24) relative to the carrier (12) so as to position the mobile production unit (24) oppositely to different sections of the carrier (12); a sensing unit that is adapted to generate sensor signals relating to a relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (12); and a control unit that is configured to, in addition to the positioning of the mobile production unit (24) via the moving unit (18), provide at least one fine positioning function to compensate for an offset from a desired relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (18) based on the sensor signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: A powder delivery device for providing raw material powder to a powder application device of a powder bed fusion apparatus is provided. The powder delivery device comprises a powder supply section configured to receive raw material powder, the powder supply section comprising an outlet for providing the raw material powder to the powder application device. The powder delivery device further comprises a first physical parameter determining unit arranged at a first location of the powder supply section and configured to determine a first physical parameter in the powder supply section, and a controller configured to determine whether the first physical parameter meets a first tolerance criterion, and a powder treatment unit. The controller is configured to instruct the powder treatment unit to perform a powder treatment in case it determines that the first physical parameter does not meet the first tolerance criterion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, comprising: a carrier (12) adapted to receive material (14) for producing the workpiece; at least one mobile production unit (24), a moving unit (18) that is adapted to move the mobile production unit (24) relative to the carrier (12) so as to position the mobile production unit (24) oppositely to different sections of the carrier (12); a sensing unit that is adapted to generate sensor signals relating to a relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (12); and a control unit that is configured to, in addition to the positioning of the mobile production unit (24) via the moving unit (18), provide at least one fine positioning function to compensate for an offset from a desired relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (18) based on the sensor signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece by carrying out an additive layering process, wherein the device (10) comprises: a build area (17) that is configured to receive a raw material powder layer; a powder application device (14) that is configured to deploy the raw material powder layer onto the build area (17); an irradiation system (20) that is configured to selectively irradiate the raw material powder layer on the build area (17); wherein the device (10) is configured to provide at least one gas flow (48) that is directed along an axis (A) extending from a first edge region (44) of the build area (17) towards a second edge region (46) of the build area (17); and wherein the device (10) comprises at least one gas flow guide element (36) that is configured to divert at least a part of the gas flow (48) away from the build area (17) before said gas flow (48) reaches the second edge region (46); wherein the gas flow guide element (36) comprises a gas supply

Abstract: A powder delivery device for providing raw material powder to a powder application device of a powder bed fusion apparatus is provided. The powder delivery device includes a powder supply section configured to receive raw material powder, the powder supply section comprising an outlet for providing the raw material powder to the powder application device. The powder delivery device further includes a first physical parameter determining unit arranged at a first location of the powder supply section and configured to determine a first physical parameter in the powder supply section, a control unit configured to determine whether the first physical parameter meets a first tolerance criterion, and a powder treatment unit, wherein the control section is configured to instruct the powder treatment unit to perform a powder treatment in case it determines that the first physical parameter does not meet the first tolerance criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional workpiece is provided, the apparatus including a carrier for receiving a raw material powder, at least a first irradiation device for selectively irradiating an electromagnetic or particle radiation beam onto raw material powder being deposited on at least one build area of the carrier in order to produce a workpiece made of the raw material powder by an additive layer construction method, and at least a first and a second powder application device configured to simultaneously deposit raw material powder onto the same build area to produce a sequence of raw material powder layers on top of one another, wherein the irradiation device is configured to irradiate a section of the build area between the powder application devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece. In a method for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a layer of raw material powder is applied onto a carrier (16) accommodated within a process chamber (12) by means of a powder application device (14), wherein a plurality of irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) is defined on a surface of the carrier (16). Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) by means of an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) comprising a plurality of irradiation units (22), each irradiation unit (22) being associated with one of the irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) and being configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the associated irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d).

Abstract: In a method for controlling an irradiation system (20) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a first and a second irradiation unit (22a, 22b) a first irradiation area (18a) is defined on a surface of a carrier (16) adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by the first irradiation unit (22a) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the first irradiation unit (22a) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is pre-heated.

Abstract: An optical irradiation device is provided which includes a multimode optical fiber suitable for the central wavelength of a beam of light having a first beam profile which enters through an input connection for multimode guidance; a switching device, which can be switched between a first and second light conducting state and is configured to conduct the beam of light entering through the input connection in the first light conducting state to an output connection, such that the beam of light has the first beam profile on emerging from the output connection, and guides the beam of light entering the input connection to the output connection by the multimode optical fiber in the second light conducting state, so that the beam of light has a second beam profile different from the first beam profile on emerging from the output connection by the multimode guidance in the multimode optical fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical irradiation unit for a plant for producing workpieces by irradiating powder layers of a raw material powder with laser radiation, comprising optical components for guiding and focussing a beam path of a first laser beam, and an optical splitting and coupling unit for splitting the first laser beam into at least two laser sub-beams and/or for coupling a second laser beam with a wavelength differing from the wavelength of the first laser beam into the beam path of the first laser beam. The disclosure also relates to a plant for producing workpieces by irradiating powder layers of a raw material powder with laser radiation, and to an associated method.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece. In a method for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a layer of raw material powder is applied onto a carrier (16) accommodated within a process chamber (12) by means of a powder application device (14), wherein a plurality of irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) is defined on a surface of the carrier (16). Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) by means of an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) comprising a plurality of irradiation units (22), each irradiation unit (22) being associated with one of the irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) and being configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the associated irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d).

Abstract: In a method for controlling an irradiation system (20) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a first and a second irradiation unit (22a, 22b) a first irradiation area (18a) is defined on a surface of a carrier (16) adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by the first irradiation unit (22a) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the first irradiation unit (22a) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is pre-heated.

Abstract: In a method for repairing a component (40), in particular a turbine blade, the component (40) is positioned on a carrier (16) such that a repair site (42) of the component (40) faces away from the carrier (16). The component (40) is heated by means of a heating element (46) extending from the carrier (16) adjacent to the component (40). A raw material powder is applied onto the carrier (16) such that the component (40) is covered by the raw material powder. Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) by means of an irradiation device (18) so as to produce a repair segment on the repair site (42) of the component (40) by an additive layer construction method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical irradiation unit (10) for a plant (100) for producing workpieces by irradiating powder layers of a raw material powder with laser radiation, comprising optical components (40, 50, 60, 70) for guiding and focussing a beam path of a first laser beam (200), and an optical splitting and coupling unit (62, 64, 66) for splitting the first laser beam (200) into at least two laser sub-beams and/or for coupling a second laser beam (300) with a wavelength differing from the wavelength of the first laser beam (200) into the beam path of the first laser beam (200). The invention also relates to a plant (100) for producing work-pieces by irradiating powder layers of a raw material powder with laser radiation, and to an associated method.