Abstract: An electron beam system for the additive manufacture of a workpiece having a process chamber which can be evacuated and comprising an electron beam generator which is designed to direct an electron beam onto laterally different locations of a powder bed made of a pulverulent material to be processed in the process chamber. In order to improve the throughput of the electron beam system, the system has at least one prechamber which can be evacuated and which is constantly connected to the process chamber during the operation of the electron beam system in a vacuum-tight manner via a sluice door. Furthermore, at least one movable receiving device for receiving the powder bed and a transport device are provided, said transport device allowing the at least one receiving device to be transported from the prechamber into the process chamber.