Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber that has an active build region, an energy beam system positioned to direct energy beams toward the active build area, and a controller operably coupled to the energy beam system. During an additive manufacturing process, the controller can control the energy beam system to execute a hybrid sintering process. For example, for a first region of a planned build object, the controller can operate the energy beam system in a continuous wave mode to generate a first energy beam to sinter powder in the first region. Then, for a second region, the controller can operate the energy beam system in a pulsed mode to generate a second energy beam with to sinter the second region.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing system includes a build chamber that has an active build region, a support platform positioned in the active build region and movable in an upward direction, and a recoater arm positioned in the build chamber and movable in a first lateral direction above the active build region. The recoater arm can spread a powder over the active build region during a build process using first and second blades. The recoater arm can also include at least one orifice component positioned between the first and second blades to block a flow of the powder while the at least one orifice component is stationary and a vibrational component operably coupled to the at least one orifice component. The additive manufacturing system can also include a controller operably coupled to the vibrational component, to control operation of the vibrational component.