Abstract: Methods of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by one or more energy beams include selectively directing a first energy beam across a powder bed along a plurality of first hatching paths and a first contour path that defines a first outer contour portion and a first stitching portion, wherein the first outer contour portion at least partially defines a first edge portion of an outer edge of the three-dimensional object, and wherein the first edge portion is non-linear, and selectively directing a second energy beam across the powder bed along a plurality of second hatching paths and a second contour path that at least partially defines a second edge portion of the outer edge of the three-dimensional object, wherein the second edge portion is adjacent the first edge portion, and wherein the first stitching portion extends into the plurality of second hatching paths along a non-linear stitching path.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object may include defining an interlace path for a plurality of energy beams from an energy beam system based at least in part on a route-finding algorithm. The interlace path may delineate a first contour zone of a build plane assigned to a first one of the plurality of energy beams from a second contour zone of the build plane assigned to a second one of the plurality of energy beams. An exemplary method may additionally or alternatively include outputting a control command based at least in part on the interlace path. The control command may be configured to cause the energy beam system to irradiate a layer of a powder bed with the plurality of energy beams.

Abstract: Method for operating at least one apparatus for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, wherein at least one object is being built by successively irradiating layers of the object in a build plane, wherein at least one part of at least one layer of the object is assigned to be irradiated by a first energy beam and at least one other part of at least one layer of the object is assigned to be irradiated by another energy beam, wherein the parts of layers are assigned to be irradiated by one of the at least two energy beams based on a Huffman coding.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object may include defining an interlace path for a plurality of energy beams from an energy beam system based at least in part on a route-finding algorithm. The interlace path may delineate a first contour zone of a build plane assigned to a first one of the plurality of energy beams from a second contour zone of the build plane assigned to a second one of the plurality of energy beams. An exemplary method may additionally or alternatively include outputting a control command based at least in part on the interlace path. The control command may be configured to cause the energy beam system to irradiate a layer of a powder bed with the plurality of energy beams.

Abstract: Method for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, whereby a process gas stream streams across the build plane (BP), whereby the process gas stream is adapted to transport respective fume particles from a layer of build material (3) which are generated during selective irradiation and consolidation of the respective layer of build material (3); wherein it is determined that the process gas stream fulfils a pre-definable or pre-defined scheduling criterion; wherein the start time for starting irradiating and consolidating of a first area (A1) and/or the start time for starting irradiating and consolidating the at least one further area (A2, An) is determined on the basis of the determination that the process gas stream has fulfilled the pre-definable or pre-defined scheduling criterion.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided comprising receiving input including: coordinates of one or more regions to be fabricated on a build plate, a laser boundary for each of two or more lasers, wherein the lasers fabricate the one or more regions, and a processing time for each region; deriving a prioritized sequence of the one or more regions to be fabricated; determining, based on the received coordinates and received laser boundary, one or more potential lasers assignments for each region; determining, based on the determined potential laser assignments, the prioritized sequence of the one or more regions, and the processing time for each region, a laser-to-region sequence for the one or more lasers to fabricate the one or more regions; assigning the determined laser-to-region sequence to the one or more lasers for fabrication of the one or more regions. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects includes a scanning unit configured to scan an energy beam over a build plane, and a focusing unit that includes an optical lens or lens system. The focusing unit may be configured to control a focal position of the energy beam based on calibration information. The focal position may be controlled by moving the focusing unit in the z-direction relative to the build plane without changing the focal length of the energy beam. Methods of calibrating such an apparatus may include moving a focusing unit in the z-direction relative to a build plane based on calibration information and scanning an energy beam over at least a portion of the build plane using a scanning unit, with the focusing unit being configured to control a focal position of the energy beam without changing the focal length of the energy beam.

Abstract: Methods of controlling and/or operating an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects include simulating control and/or operation of at least one functionality of the apparatus using a provisional software product to check at least one pre-defined certification criterion upon which the at least one functionality of the apparatus are preconditioned, generating a machine-readable software product upon the provisional software product having satisfied the at least one pre-defined certification criterion, and controlling and/or operating the at least one functionality of the apparatus using the machine-readable software product. The software product may be generated by modifying the provisional software product based on a certification key provided to the provisional software product.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided comprising receiving input including: coordinates of one or more regions to be fabricated on a build plate, a laser boundary for each of two or more lasers, wherein the lasers fabricate the one or more regions, and a processing time for each region; deriving a prioritized sequence of the one or more regions to be fabricated; determining, based on the received coordinates and received laser boundary, one or more potential lasers assignments for each region; determining, based on the determined potential laser assignments, the prioritized sequence of the one or more regions, and the processing time for each region, a laser-to-region sequence for the one or more lasers to fabricate the one or more regions; assigning the determined laser-to-region sequence to the one or more lasers for fabrication of the one or more regions. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Method for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object whereby a process gas stream streams across the build plane (BP), whereby the process gas stream is adapted to transport respective fume particles from a layer of build material (3) which are generated during selective irradiation and consolidation of the respective layer of build material (3); wherein it is determined that the process gas stream fulfils a pre-definable or pre-defined scheduling criterion; wherein the start time for starting irradiating and consolidating of a first area (A1) and/or the start time for starting irradiating and consolidating the at least one further area (A2, An) is determined on the basis of the determination that the process gas stream has fulfilled the pre-definable or pre-defined scheduling criterion.

Abstract: Method for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of build material layers by means of at least one energy beam (4), whereby each build material layer comprises at least one irradiation area (IA) which is to be selectively irradiated and thereby, selectively consolidated during the additive build-up of the three-dimensional object (2) to be additively manufactured, the irradiation area (IA) being subdivided into a number of irradiation sub-areas (ISA), wherein at least one irradiation sub-area (ISA) having the shape of a polygon, the polygon having at least five sides.

Abstract: Method for operating at least one apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2-5) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers (6) of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (12), wherein at least one object (2-5) is being built by successively irradiating layers (6) of the object (2-5) in a build plane (13), wherein at least one part (16-31) of at least one layer (6) of the object (2-5) is assigned to be irradiated by a first energy beam (12) and at least one other part (16-31) of at least one layer (6) of the object (2-5) is assigned to be irradiated by another energy beam (12), wherein the parts (16-31) of layers (6) are assigned to be irradiated by one of the at least two energy beams (12) based on a Huffman coding.

Abstract: Method for producing a machine-readable controlling and/or operating means (M) for controlling and/or operating at least one functionality of an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object (2) is provided which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), including: providing a specified data format, producing a provisional controlling and/or operating means (PM), checking if the produced provisional controlling and/or operating means (PM) fulfils at least one pre-defined certification criterion, and if the provisional controlling and/or operating means (PM) fulfils the at least one certification criterion, producing the machine-readable controlling and/or operating means (M) by providing at least one certification key (K) to the provisional controlling and/or operating means (PM).

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4, 5), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises a scanning unit (6) configured to scan the energy beam (4, 5) over at least a part of a build plane (7), a focusing unit (15) is provided that is configured to control a focal position (13, 14) of the energy beam (4, 5) via a positioning of at least one optical component of the focusing unit (15) and/or a positioning of the focusing unit (15) relative to the build plane (7).