Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has an optics assembly to direct laser energy toward a build surface to fuse a portion of a precursor material on the build surface. An optics shield of the additive manufacturing system has a debris shield including an optical window. The optical window permits laser energy to pass through the debris shield and prevents fusion products released during fusion of the precursor material from contacting a portion of the optics assembly. The optics shield has a gas flow passage between the optical window and the build surface. The gas flow passage directs a flow of gas away from the optical window to resist movement of the fusion products through the gas flow passage toward the debris shield.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system may include a build surface and an optics assembly movable relative to the build surface. The optics assembly may direct laser energy from one or more laser energy sources toward the build surface to melt a portion of the build surface. The system may further comprise a gas flow head operatively coupled to the optics assembly and moveable relative to the build surface. The gas flow head may define a partially enclosed volume between the optics assembly and the build surface. The gas flow head may generate a non-uniform flow of gas through the gas flow head in a direction that is opposite a direction of motion of the optics assembly. A velocity of the gas flow may be sufficient to entrain particles ejected from the melted portion of the layer of material in order to remove the ejected particles from the partially enclosed volume.