Abstract: A method for the production of blow-molded containers that are sterile at least in certain regions, and a blow-molding machine configured to carry out the method. In accordance with the method, blowing stations are arranged on a rotating blowing wheel. A preform of a thermoplastic material is first heated and then stretched in a blowing station by a stretching rod and subjected to a pressurized blowing fluid via a blowing nozzle. A sterilizing fluid is supplied to the preform in the blowing station to perform a sterilization. The sterilizing fluid is fed into the preform from an outlet and is carried away again via an inlet and in between follows a flow path. The sterilizing fluid is made to pass through or pass by the stretching rod on its flow path, and the sterilizing fluid is supplied while the blow-molding machine continues to operate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an plant for the production and treatment of sterile plastic containers, in which preforms made of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating section and then formed into containers by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and wherein the preforms or the containers or both are sterilized and pass through at least one low-germ zone which is surrounded by an enclosure, characterized in that the enclosure 2, 2? has an outer housing 3, 3? and an airlock chamber 4, 4? through which treatment medium is extracted from the low-germ zone 1, 1? and at the same time air is extracted from the outer environment of the outer housing 3, 3?.

Abstract: A method for additive manufacturing an object is disclosed. The method includes, for a first portion of the object to be built in a first overlapping field region of a plurality of melting beams of a metal powder AM system, sequentially forming each layer of the first portion by: forming only a border section of the first portion of the object using a first melting beam of the plurality of melting beams in the first overlapping field region; and forming an internal section of the first portion of the object within the border section using at least one second, different melting beam from the first melting beam in the first overlapping field region. An entirety of an internal edge of the border section of the first portion of the object is overlapped with an entirety of an external edge of the internal section of the first portion of the object.

Abstract: A ceiling module for the construction of a clean room cell, where the ceiling module includes at least a module support for arrangement on and connection to a support structure, a technical device including at least one filter unit, and a ceiling support which is spaced apart from the module support such that a technical space is formed between the ceiling support and the module support, wherein the technical device is arranged inside the technical space.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing blow-molded containers which are sterile at least in some areas. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first heated in a heating device on a transport path through a blow-molding machine and then supplied with a pressurized fluid in a blow-molding station of the device. The preform is guided along a channel, which conducts a sterile gas, at least over one sub-section of the transport path of the preform. The transport path of the preform out of the channel is supplied with the sterile gas in order to produce a sterile gas corridor in which at least the opening region of the preform is guided. Multiple radiation sources are arranged along the channel and one behind the other in the transport direction. The radiation sources emit a sterilizing radiation onto the preform and/or onto the channel, and/or onto the sterile gas corridor.

Abstract: An applicator repair system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and an AM system including the same are disclosed. The applicator repair system includes a repair device including a repair element configured to repair a damaged applicator element on an applicator of an AM system. The damaged applicator element is configured to distribute a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system. The repair device is positioned within a processing chamber of the AM system. A damaged applicator controller may be provided that is configured to cause repair of the damaged active applicator in response to the damaged applicator being identified as damaged.

Abstract: A ceiling module for the construction of a clean room cell, where the ceiling module includes at least a module support for arrangement on and connection to a support structure, a technical device including at least one filter unit, and a ceiling support which is spaced apart from the module support such that a technical space is formed between the ceiling support and the module support, wherein the technical device is arranged inside the technical space.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing blow-molded containers, which are sterile at least in some areas, in a blow-molding machine. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first heated, then stretched by a stretching rod in a blowing station, and then supplied with a pressurized fluid via a blow nozzle, wherein a sterilization device is arranged in the blowing station. The sterilization device has at least one radiation source which emits a sterilizing radiation onto the stretching rod and/or onto the blow nozzle.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device is configured to simultaneously modulate the intensity of the laser beam to thermally control the melt pool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport system for transporting preforms in a device for the blow-molding production of finished containers, wherein the transport system comprises a transport chain, the chain elements of which have a support element for transporting the preforms, wherein the support element comprises a shaft part and a head part, and the head part has a head end region that can be introduced into the opening section of the preform, characterized in that the head part is retained on the shaft part and can be detached from the shaft part via actuation of a first actuation element, wherein the first actuation element is arranged in the shaft part end region facing away from the head part. The invention also relates to a device for the blow-molding production of finished containers from preforms, a use, as well as a method for exchanging at least one head part, each making use of the transport system according to the invention.

Abstract: Controlling microstructure in an object created by metal powder additive manufacturing is disclosed. During additive manufacturing of one or more objects using an irradiation beam source system, for each respective layer in a selected range of layers including a cross-sectional area of the one or more objects including the selected object, a duration controller controls actuation of each irradiation device to maintain constant a sum of: an irradiation device melting time, an irradiation device idle time, and a recoating time expended applying a new powder material layer, while otherwise maintaining all other operation parameters of each irradiation device constant.

Abstract: In some cases, an additive manufacturing (AM) system includes: a process chamber for additively manufacturing a component, the process chamber having: a build platform; at least one melting beam scanner configured to emit a melting beam for melting powder on the build platform; an applicator for applying layers of powder to the build platform; and a reservoir for storing powder; and a control system coupled with the set of melting beam scanners, the control system configured to: apply the melting beam to a layer of powder on the build platform along a primary melting path; and apply the melting beam to the layer of powder on the build platform along a re-melting path after applying the melting beam along the primary melting path, the re-melting path overlapping a portion of the primary melting path and applied only in an area proximate a perimeter of the component.

Abstract: A component includes a body, and an interface in the body defining a first and second portion of the body made by different melting beam sources of a multiple melting beam source additive manufacturing system during a single build. The component also includes a channel extending through the body. The channel includes an interface-distant area on opposing sides of the interface, each interface-distant area having a first width. The channel also includes an enlarged width area fluidly communicative with the interface-distant areas and spanning the interface, the enlarged width area having a second width larger than the first width. Any misalignment of the melting beams at the interface is addressed by the enlarged width area, eliminating the problem of reduced cooling fluid flow in the channel.

Abstract: A method for additive manufacturing an object is disclosed. The method includes, for a first portion of the object to be built in a first overlapping field region of a plurality of melting beams of a metal powder AM system, sequentially forming each layer of the first portion by: forming only a border section of the first portion of the object using a first melting beam of the plurality of melting beams in the first overlapping field region; and forming an internal section of the first portion of the object within the border section using at least one second, different melting beam from the first melting beam in the first overlapping field region. An entirety of an internal edge of the border section of the first portion of the object is overlapped with an entirety of an external edge of the internal section of the first portion of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport system for transporting preforms in a device for the blow-molding production of finished containers, wherein the transport system comprises a transport chain, the chain elements of which have a support element for transporting the preforms, wherein the support element comprises a shaft part and a head part, and the head part has a head end region that can be introduced into the opening section of the preform, characterized in that the head part is retained on the shaft part and can be detached from the shaft part via actuation of a first actuation element, wherein the first actuation element is arranged in the shaft part end region facing away from the head part. The invention also relates to a device for the blow-molding production of finished containers from preforms, a use, as well as a method for exchanging at least one head part, each making use of the transport system according to the invention.

Abstract: Additive manufactured components including sacrificial caps, and methods of forming components including sacrificial caps are disclosed. The additive manufactured components may include a body portion including a first surface, and a feature formed in the body portion. The feature may include an aperture formed through the first surface of the body portion. Additionally, the components may include a sacrificial cap formed integral with at least a portion of the first surface of the body portion. The sacrificial cap may include a conduit in fluid communication with the feature. The sacrificial cap including the conduit may be removed from the body portion to expose the first surface and the aperture of the feature, respectively, after performing one or more post-build processes, such as shot peening, on the component and the sacrificial cap.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems (AMS) are disclosed. The AMS may include a build plate positioned directly on a movable build platform, and a recoater device positioned above the build plate. The recoater device may include a blade. Additionally, the AMS may include a calibration system operably connected to the recoater device. The calibration system may include at least one measurement device coupled or positioned adjacent to the recoater device, and at least one computing device operably connected to the measurement device(s). The computing device(s) may be configured to calibrate the recoater device by adjusting a height of the blade of the recoater device relative to a reference surface of a component of the AMS in response to determining a pre-build distance between the blade of the recoater device and the reference surface differs from a desired distance. The pre-build distance may be determined using the measurement device(s).

Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for controlling an additive manufacturing (AM) process. In some cases, an AM system includes: a process chamber for additively manufacturing a component, the process chamber at least partially housing a plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, each of the distinct melting beam scanners configured to emit a melting beam, wherein each of the distinct melting beam scanners is independently physically movable within a corresponding region of the process chamber; and a control system coupled with the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners, the control system configured to control movement of at least one of the plurality of distinct melting beam scanners within the corresponding region based upon a geometry of the component.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems (AMS) are disclosed. The AMS may include a movable build platform, and a calibration system operably connected to the build platform. The calibration system may include a reflective element operably coupled to the build platform, a first calibration model positioned above and vertically offset from the reflective element, and a first camera substantially aligned with the first calibration model. The first camera may be visually aligned with the reflective element to capture a first reflective image of the first calibration model as reflected by the reflective element. The calibration system may also include at least one computing device operably connected to the build platform and the first camera, and configured to calibrate the build platform by: adjusting an actual inclination of the build platform in response to determining the first reflective image differs from a predetermined image of the first calibration model.