Abstract: An additively manufactured (AM) structure includes a removal plane extending therein defining an object thereabove. The AM structure also includes at least one datum structure coupled relative to the AM structure. Each datum structure includes a vertical reference plane for guiding a cutting element to remove the object from a remaining portion of the AM structure through the removal plane. The vertical reference plane is horizontally coplanar with the removal plane of the AM structure. The datum structures allow for accurate object cuts regardless of whether an AM build platform is horizontal or non-planar.

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: 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: A damaged applicator identifier system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and AM system including the same are disclosed. The damaged applicator identifier system may include a damaged applicator identifier determining whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the layer by the active applicator. A damaged applicator controller is configured to cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the damaged, active applicator.

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: An additively manufactured (AM) structure includes a removal plane extending therein defining an object thereabove. The AM structure also includes at least one datum structure coupled relative to the AM structure. Each datum structure includes a vertical reference plane for guiding a cutting element to remove the object from a remaining portion of the AM structure through the removal plane. The vertical reference plane is horizontally coplanar with the removal plane of the AM structure. The datum structures allow for accurate object cuts regardless of whether an AM build platform is horizontal or non-planar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for transporting and handling containers, in particular containers made of a thermoplastic material. The containers are transported from an inlet point (41) to an outlet point (30) in a transport direction by the transport device. The transport device has at least one handling device (26) which moves in the transport direction for handling one or more of the containers in a simultaneous manner in particular, and the handling device (26) is arranged in a movable manner relative to the transport device in order to move in a direction which deviates from the transport direction. The invention is characterized in that the transport device has at least one motor (32, 34, 37), by means of which the at least one handling device (26) can be moved in a motor-driven manner in the direction which deviates from the transport direction.

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 manufactured components including portions having distinct porosities, and systems/methods of forming components including portions having distinct porosities are disclosed. The components may include a first portion having a first porosity. The first portion may include a first exposure pattern of a plurality of scan vectors extending over the first portion. The first exposure pattern may define the first porosity of the first portion. The component may also include a second portion positioned adjacent the first portion. The second portion may include a second porosity greater than the first porosity of the first portion. Additionally, the second portion may include a second exposure pattern of a plurality of scan vectors extending over the second portion. The second exposure pattern may be distinct from the first exposure pattern of the first portion, and may define the second porosity of the second portion.

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 damaged applicator identifier system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and AM system including the same are disclosed. The damaged applicator identifier system may include a damaged applicator identifier determining whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the layer by the active applicator. A damaged applicator controller is configured to cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the damaged, active applicator.

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: Additive manufacturing systems (AMS) are disclosed. The AMS may include a build platform, and energy emitting device(s) positioned above the build platform. Energy emitting device(s) may be configured to form a test mark directly on a reference surface of the AMS. AMS may also include a calibration system operably connected to the energy emitting device(s). The calibration system may include measurement device(s) configured to determine an actual location of the test mark on the reference surface, and computing device(s) operably connected to the energy emitting device(s) and the measurement device(s). The computing device(s) may be configured to calibrate the energy emitting device(s) by adjusting the energy emitting device(s) in response to determining the actual location of the test mark on the reference surface from a predetermined, desired location on the reference surface.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: Methods include converting a residual surface stress in a component made by a metal powder additive manufacturing process. The component includes a body having an external surface and an internal opening passing at least partially through the body, the internal opening including an unused metal powder from the additive manufacturing process therein. Residual surface stress is converted in at least a portion of a body about the internal opening by applying a pressure in the internal opening using a non-compressible fluid and the unused metal powder. The method is advantageous for use with gamma primed hardened superalloys. An additively manufactured component including the stress-converted internal opening is also disclosed.