Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improved laser metal deposition heads. Various embodiments may include a main body, a nozzle seat, a powder flow guide, an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle, and a coolant sleeve. In some embodiments, powder inlets in the main body are angled relative to a primary axis of the laser metal deposition head. In some embodiments, the nozzle seat includes a plurality of powder distribution channels that are also angled relative to the primary axis of the laser metal deposition head.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for optimizing process parameters for additive manufacturing, including: determining a change to at least one process parameter of a plurality of process parameters while additively manufacturing a first part using an additive manufacturing apparatus according to a build file comprising machine code defining the plurality of process parameters; modifying the build file based on the determined change to the at least one process parameter to generate a modified build file; additively manufacturing a second part using the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the modified build file, wherein: additively manufacturing the first part is performed in a closed-loop control mode, and additively manufacturing the second part is performed in an open-loop control mode.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: determining a material transition between a first machine control code and a second machine control code in a set of machine control codes; determining a material transition time for the determined material transition between the first machine control code and the second machine control code; determining a motion time from the first machine control code and the second machine control code; comparing the material transition time to the motion time; and manipulating the set of machine control codes based on the comparison.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for setting a working distance of an additive manufacturing system, including: moving a deposition element towards a build surface; detecting, via a contact detection system, a contact between the deposition element and the build surface; stopping the moving of the deposition element in response to detecting the contact between the deposition element and the build surface; and moving the deposition element away from the build surface a determined working distance.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for optimizing process parameters for additive manufacturing, including: determining a change to at least one process parameter of a plurality of process parameters while additively manufacturing a first part using an additive manufacturing apparatus according to a build file comprising machine code defining the plurality of process parameters; modifying the build file based on the determined change to the at least one process parameter to generate a modified build file; additively manufacturing a second part using the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the modified build file, wherein: additively manufacturing the first part is performed in a closed-loop control mode, and additively manufacturing the second part is performed in an open-loop control mode.

Abstract: Aspects described herein provide a method including: receiving layer data for a part to be additively manufactured, wherein the layer data comprises a plurality of deposition locations; for each respective deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations: determining a surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; determining a direction of travel vector based on the respective deposition location and at least one other deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations; determining a tool vector for the respective deposition location based on the direction of travel vector for the respective deposition location and the surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; manipulating a movable element of the additive manufacturing machine to align with the tool vector for the respective deposition location; and depositing material of the part at the respective deposition location.

Abstract: A powder feed device for an additive manufacturing system that includes an energy source to transform powder in a melt pool. The device includes a plurality of powder vessels that are configured to mate with a powder feed intake that delivers powder to the additive manufacturing system. A vessel actuator can selectively mate ones of the plurality of powder vessels with the powder feed intake. Each of the plurality of powder vessels can include a carrier gas inlet.

Abstract: Aspects described herein provide a method including: receiving layer data for a part to be additively manufactured, wherein the layer data comprises a plurality of deposition locations; for each respective deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations: determining a surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; determining a direction of travel vector based on the respective deposition location and at least one other deposition location of the plurality of deposition locations; determining a tool vector for the respective deposition location based on the direction of travel vector for the respective deposition location and the surface normal vector for with the respective deposition location; manipulating a movable element of the additive manufacturing machine to align with the tool vector for the respective deposition location; and depositing material of the part at the respective deposition location.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for setting a working distance of an additive manufacturing system, including: moving a deposition element towards a build surface; detecting, via a contact detection system, a contact between the deposition element and the build surface; stopping the moving of the deposition element in response to detecting the contact between the deposition element and the build surface; and moving the deposition element away from the build surface a determined working distance.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of operating an additive manufacturing system, including: receiving image data from a camera sensor positioned such that its field of view includes a reference location on a deposition element of the additive manufacturing system and an active processing area; determining a location of the active processing area based on the image data received from the camera sensor; and determining one or more process parameters based on the determined location of the active processing area and the reference location on the deposition element.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: measuring a first temperature of a part being processed by the additive manufacturing machine; determining that the first measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold; activating an auxiliary gas flow; cooling the auxiliary gas flow with a cooling system; and directing the cooled auxiliary gas flow towards the part.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improved laser metal deposition heads. Various embodiments may include a main body, a nozzle seat, a powder flow guide, an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle, and a coolant sleeve. In some embodiments, powder inlets in the main body are angled relative to a primary axis of the laser metal deposition head. In some embodiments, the nozzle seat includes a plurality of powder distribution channels that are also angled relative to the primary axis of the laser metal deposition head.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improved laser metal deposition heads. Various embodiments may include a main body, a nozzle seat, a powder flow guide, an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle, and a coolant sleeve. In some embodiments, powder inlets in the main body are angled relative to a primary axis of the laser metal deposition head. In some embodiments, the nozzle seat includes a plurality of powder distribution channels that are also angled relative to the primary axis of the laser metal deposition head.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: determining a material transition between a first machine control code and a second machine control code in a set of machine control codes; determining a material transition time for the determined material transition between the first machine control code and the second machine control code; determining a motion time from the first machine control code and the second machine control code; comparing the material transition time to the motion time; and manipulating the set of machine control codes based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing using sensor feedback. In some examples, the sensor may be a distance sensor, and design layers may be selected dynamically based on determined part layer heights after layer deposition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing using sensor feedback. In some examples, the sensor may be a distance sensor, and design layers may be selected dynamically based on determined part layer heights after layer deposition.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: determining a material transition between a first machine control code and a second machine control code in a set of machine control codes; determining a material transition time for the determined material transition between the first machine control code and the second machine control code; determining a motion time from the first machine control code and the second machine control code; comparing the material transition time to the motion time; and manipulating the set of machine control codes based on the comparison.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: measuring a first temperature of a part being processed by the additive manufacturing machine; determining that the first measured temperature exceeds a temperature threshold; activating an auxiliary gas flow; cooling the auxiliary gas flow with a cooling system; and directing the cooled auxiliary gas flow towards the part.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to improved laser metal deposition heads. Various embodiments may include a main body, a nozzle seat, a powder flow guide, an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle, and a coolant sleeve. In some embodiments, powder inlets in the main body are angled relative to a primary axis of the laser metal deposition head. In some embodiments, the nozzle seat includes a plurality of powder distribution channels that are also angled relative to the primary axis of the laser metal deposition head.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to. In one example, a method of controlling an additive manufacturing machine includes: determining a material transition between a first machine control code and a second machine control code in a set of machine control codes; determining a material transition time for the determined material transition between the first machine control code and the second machine control code; determining a motion time from the first machine control code and the second machine control code; comparing the material transition time to the motion time; and manipulating the set of machine control codes based on the comparison.