Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include providing a powder bed and directing a shaped laser beam pulse train consisting of one or more pulses and having a flux greater than 20 kW/cm2 at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. This minimizes adverse laser plasma effects during the process of melting and fusing powder within the defined two dimensional region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for performing an Additive Manufacturing (AM) fabrication process on a powdered material (PM) forming a substrate. The system uses a first optical subsystem to generate an optical signal comprised of electromagnetic (EM) radiation sufficient to melt or sinter a PM of the substrate. The first optical subsystem is controlled to generate a plurality of different power density levels, with a specific one being selected based on a specific PM forming a powder bed being used to form a 3D part. At least one processor controls the first optical subsystem and adjusts a power density level of the optical signal, taking into account a composition of the PM. A second optical subsystem receives the optical signal from the first optical subsystem and controls the optical signal to help facilitate melting of the PM in a layer-by-layer sequence of operations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for additively manufacturing a product in a layer-by-layer sequence, wherein the product is formed using powder particles deposited on an interface layer of a substrate. A laser generates first and second beam components. The second beam component has a higher power level and a shorter duration than the first beam component. A mask creates a 2D optical pattern in which only select portions of the second beam components can irradiate the powder particles. The first beam component heats the powder particles close to a melting point, where the particles experience surface tension forces relative to the interface layer. While the particles are heated, the second beam component further heats the particles and also melts the interface layer before the surface tension forces can act on and distort the particles, enabling the particles and the interface layer are able to bond together.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include creating, by a 3D printer contained within an enclosure, a part having a weight greater than or equal to 2,000 kilograms. A gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure atmospheric level. In some embodiments, a wheeled vehicle may transport the part from inside the enclosure, through an airlock, as the airlock operates to buffer between a gaseous environment within the enclosure and a gaseous environment outside the enclosure, and to a location exterior to both the enclosure and the airlock.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes one or more light sources and one or more light valves that can be written with two-dimensional gray scale patterns that the light valves impose on beams from the one or more light sources to obtain one or more patterned beams. The one or more patterned beams are steered to each area of a plurality of areas on a layer of powder. The two-dimensional gray scale patterns are selected to achieve desired material properties at each pixel position of the patterned beam incident on the layer of powder. The light valves may modulate one or more of amplitude, phase, or coherence. The material properties may include one or more of Young's modulus, porosity, grain size, and crystalline microstructure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for manufacturing a part via an additive manufacturing process. The system uses a reservoir for containing a heated solution forming a mixture of a volatile component and meltable powdered material particles, the heated solution being heated to a point where the heated solution is at least about to begin boiling. A nozzle associated with the reservoir channels a quantity of the heated solution onto at least one of a substrate or a previously formed material layer. A processor controls a flow of the heated solution through the nozzle onto at least one of the substrate or the previously formed material layer. A heat source responsive to the processor generates heat to melt the powdered material particles. The heat source is controlled to melt the powdered material particles after the volatile component has at least substantially evaporated from the mixture.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a part via an additive manufacturing process. A solution is used which has a volatile component within which is suspended particles of a powdered material. The solution is heated until it at least one of begins boiling or is about to begin boiling. The heated solution is then deposited at least at one location on a substrate to help form a layer of the part. The volatile component then evaporates, leaving only the particles of powdered material. The particles are then heated to the melting point. The deposition and heating operations are repeated to successively form a plurality of layers for the part. The evaporation of the volatile component helps to cool the part.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes at least two high power lasers to generate beams. A phase patterning unit is used to receive and alter phase of a beam from at least one of the two high power lasers. At least one phase patterned beam can be mixed with another beam at a print the print bed. In some embodiments, beams are moved with respect to the print bed by changes in phase patterns from the phase patterning unit. In other embodiments, phase patterns from the phase patterning unit can be used for simultaneous printing of multiple layers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing large area laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) to form a plurality of layers of a 3D part in a layer-by-layer fashion using meltable powder particles. In one implementation the system makes use of a first light source, which may be a diode laser subsystem, for generating a first light pulse of a first duration. The first light is used to preheat a substrate underneath a new layer of powder particles, wherein the substrate is formed from a previously fused quantity of the powder particles. A second light source, which may be a pulse laser, generates a second light pulse subsequent to the first light pulse. The second light pulse has a second duration shorter than the first duration by a factor of at least about 10, and fully melts the new layer of powder particles in addition to the substrate, to achieve a smooth printed layer. The wavelength of the first light pulse also differs from a wavelength of the second light pulse.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a high fluence laser beam at a first wavelength. The systems includes a 2D patternable light valve having a resonance based structure responsive to a write beam.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a laser beam directed against a light valve. An active light valve cooling system is arranged to remove heat from the light valve and a heat exchanger is connected to the active light valve cooling system. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the active light valve cooling system and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a high fluence laser beam at a first wavelength. A 2D patternable light valve having a phase change material responsive to a write beam at a second wavelength, and non-responsive at the first wavelength is used to pattern the high fluence laser beam.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes at least two photoconductor plates attached to a substrate. Each photoconductor plate can include separate the Linear Electro layers and transparent conductive oxide layers.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one laser source and a print bed. A light valve array having at least three optically addressable light valves is positioned to direct differing images at the print bed. Optics to direct multiple beams derived from the at least one laser source can be positioned to direct light toward and from the optically addressable light valves.

Abstract: An apparatus with first and second transparent conductive oxide layers is described. A photoconductive layer can be positioned between the first and a second transparent conductive oxide layers. The photoconductive layer can be a crystalline layer that can include bismuth silicate or other suitable materials. An electro-optical layer is positioned in contact with the photoconductive layer. In some embodiments the photoconductive layer is positionable to receive a write beam that defines a two-dimensional spatial pattern.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved chamber designs, multiple chambers, powder handling and re-use systems, and powder characterization methods are disclosed.