Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for build surface mapping and recovery for additive manufacturing. The method may include fabricating an object by additive manufacturing wherein the topology of a build surface is determined. An additive manufacturing process may be modified based on the topology determination. The topology of the surface may be determined by marking the surface with a first mark using a converging energy source; determining a dimension of the mark using a camera; and determining a height of the first mark based on the dimension of the mark.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for additive manufacturing. In one aspect, the method and program comprises forming an at least partially solidified portion within a first scan region by irradiating a build material at a first energy density value along a first irradiation path. A second at least partially solidified portion is formed within a second scan region that is spaced with respect to the first scan region, wherein the solidified portion within the first scan region is formed by irradiation a build material at a second energy density value along a second irradiation path. The space between the first scan region and the second scan region is at least partially solidified by irradiating a build material at a third energy density value that less than the first energy density value and the second energy density value.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing device includes a positioning mechanism configured to provide independent movement of at least one build unit in at least two dimensions. The build unit may further include a gasflow device for providing a flow zone along a first direction with relation to the build unit. The build unit may further include a powder delivery mechanism and an irradiation beam directing unit. The irradiation bean unit may follow a first irradiation path, wherein the first irradiation path forms at least a first solidification line and at least a second solidification line formed at an angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. During the formation of the first solidification line, the build unit may be positioned in a first orientation such that the first direction of the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line.

Abstract: A method of storing a set of data representing a point cloud, comprising: creating an array in a digital memory having cells addressable by reference to at least one index, wherein each of the at least one indices has a predetermined correspondence to a geometric location within the point cloud; and storing a value of the data set in each of the cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to powder packing for additive manufacturing (AM) methods and systems. Conventional powder packing methods have focused on leveling the bulk powder cone in the powder reservoir. Moreover, such methods may be manual and non-standardized, and they result in operator fatigue and potentially product inconsistencies. Powder packing according to the present disclosure improves standardization and reduces turnaround time, with the potential to lower the cost of AM.

Abstract: A method for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The apparatus used in the method includes a build unit and a machining mechanism that are attached to a positioning mechanism, a rotating platform, and a rotary encoder attached to the rotating platform. The method involves rotating the build platform; determining the rotational speed; growing the object and the build wall through repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) over and substantially parallel to multiple build areas within the build platform to deposit a layer of powder at each build area, leveling the powder, and irradiating the powder to form a fused additive layer at each build area; machining the object being manufactured; and cutting and removing the build wall. The irradiation parameters are calibrated based on the determined rotational speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for powder-based additive manufacturing is described. The build unit(s) of the apparatus includes a powder delivery mechanism, a powder recoating mechanism and an irradiation beam directing mechanism. The build unit is attached to a positioning mechanism that provides the build unit with independent movements in at least two dimensions. The build platform of the apparatus is rotating and preferably vertically stationary. Embodiments of the build unit that further includes a gas-flow mechanism and the build platform having a dynamically grown wall are also described. An additive manufacturing method using the apparatus involves rotating the build platform and repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) in a radial direction to deposit at least one layer of powder, and irradiating a selected portion of the powder to form a fused additive layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The build unit(s) of the apparatus includes a powder delivery mechanism, a powder recoating mechanism and an irradiation beam directing mechanism. The build unit and the machining mechanism are attached to a positioning mechanism that provides them with movement. The build platform of the apparatus is rotating and preferably vertically stationary. Embodiments of the build unit that further includes a gas-flow mechanism and the build platform having a dynamically grown wall are also described. A manufacturing method using the apparatus involves rotating the build platform; repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) to deposit a powder and irradiating the powder to form a fused additive layer; and machining the object being manufactured.

Abstract: A method for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The apparatus used in the method includes one or more build units and a machining mechanism that are attached to a positioning mechanism, and a rotating build platform. The method involves at least rotating the build platform; repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) to deposit powder and irradiating at least a selected portion of the powder to form at least one fused layer to form at least one object and a build wall that retains unfused powder about the object; and removing the build wall by rotational machining.

Abstract: A method for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The apparatus used in the method includes a build unit and a machining mechanism that are attached to a positioning mechanism, a rotating platform, and a rotary encoder attached to the rotating platform. The method involves rotating the build platform; determining the rotational speed; growing the object and the build wall through repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) over and substantially parallel to multiple build areas within the build platform to deposit a layer of powder at each build area, leveling the powder, and irradiating the powder to form a fused additive layer at each build area; machining the object being manufactured; and cutting and removing the build wall. The irradiation parameters are calibrated based on the determined rotational speed.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing and authenticating a component is provided. The method includes forming a component having an identifying region that contains two or more materials having different conductivities such that the identifying region generates an eddy current response signature that defines a component identifier of the component. The method further includes interrogating the identifying region of the surface with an eddy current probe to determine the component identifier. The component identifier may be stored in a database as a reference identifier and may be used for authenticating components.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: An improved scanning strategy, having a waveform hatch pattern for scanning an energy source during an additive manufacturing build process. A waveform hatch pattern is formed on each layer of the build so as to increase the variance between layers and/or improve the microstructure of the completed component. In one aspect, a first layer is formed by scanning a laser in a series of hatch lines formed as a first pattern that oscillates about an axis. Each subsequent layer is formed as a series hatch lines formed in a pattern that is varied in geometry from a previous and subsequently formed layer. By varying the pattern when forming each layer, the desired variance in each layer can be achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: A scanning technique for the additive manufacturing of an object. The method comprises the irradiation a portion of a given layer of powder to form a fused region using an energy source. When forming an object layer by layer, the irradiation follows a first irradiation pattern at least partially bounded by a stripe region. When forming the first fused region using a first irradiation pattern a first series of solidification lines are formed, at angle other than 90° with respect to a substantially linear stripe region boundary. A series of second solidification lines are formed that intersecting the end of the first solidification line at a first angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. A third series of solidification lines are formed that are substantially parallel to a first series of solidification lines and intersect one of the second solidification lines.

Abstract: A scanning technique for the additive manufacturing of an object. The method comprises the irradiation of a portion of a given layer of powder to form a fused region using an energy source. When forming an object layer by layer, the irradiation follows a first irradiation path bounded by a first stripe, wherein the first irradiation path is formed at an oblique angle with respect to the first stripe. The first irradiation path further comprises at least a first scan vector and a second scan vector at least partially melting a powder and forming a first solidification line and second solidification line respectively, wherein the first solidification intersects and forms an oblique angle with respect to the second solidification line. After a layer is completed, a subsequent layer of powder is provided over the completed layer, and the subsequent layer of powder is irradiated. Irradiation of the subsequent layer of powder follows a second irradiation path bounded by a second stripe.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a recoater blade to smooth out deposited powder, such that the system can sense forces on the blade and allow vertical and horizontal displacement of the blade in response to those forces. The system can change how the blade responds to those forces, for instance the blade may respond by displacing quickly and easily away from the force (a “soft” recoater), or it may resist the force (a “stiff” recoater). This allows a single recoater blade to be used in a variety of situations without work stoppage, whereas before the blade would have to be replaced.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.