Abstract: A method for manufacturing a workpiece comprising fusing an area (A) of a layer of a fusable material by irradiating the surface of the area (A) of the layer using a number n, n?2 of at least two beam sources to project a corresponding number of n beam spots on n sets of locations (Li) of said surface area (A) of the layer, wherein each beam source has a predefined fuse rate (Ri) and a field of view (Fi), ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L i ? L j ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" ? 1 100 ? Max ? ( ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L i ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" , ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L j ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" ) , ? i ? j and the indices of Li, Ri and Fi symbolize the respective beam source, i.e. 0<i?n and the set of all beam source indicating indices is I={1, . . . , n} operates more efficiently if first an optimum fusing time to(i) for the area (A) and at least for the first beam source, i.e.

Abstract: A manufacturing process includes fusing an area of a material layer with beams from multiple sources, each of which has a predefined fuse rate and a field of view. Efficiency of fusing is increased by estimating optimum fusing times with the use of size of the area to and fuse rates involved, determining optimum size of the area to be fused, and determining those vectors of the area that could be irradiated and fused by a given of the multiple sources. As a result, the set of locations at the area is determined that can be fused by a given source almost exactly within the optimum fusing time. Vectors representing the area are then compared to products of optimum fusing times and corresponding fuse rates and, if a vector and a corresponding product are in a predetermined relationship, a subset of the vector is selected for irradiation by identified source.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a position of a laser beam in an apparatus comprising at least one optical unit for directing the laser beam is provided. The at least one optical unit comprises a plurality of optical elements.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a workpiece comprising fusing an area (A) of a layer of a fusable material by irradiating the surface of the area (A) of the layer using a number n, n?2 of at least two beam sources to project a corresponding number of n beam spots on n sets of locations (Li) of said surface area (A) of the layer, wherein each beam source has a predefined fuse rate (Ri) and a field of view (Fi), ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L i ? L j ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" ? 1 100 ? Max ? ( ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L i ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" , ? "\[LeftBracketingBar]" L j ? "\[RightBracketingBar]" ) , ?i?j and the indices of Li, Ri and Fi symbolize the respective beam source, i.e. 0<i?n and the set of all beam source indicating indices is I={1, . . . , n} operates more efficiently if first an optimum fusing time to(i) for the area (A) and at least for the first beam source, i.e.