Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support leading edge structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel leading edge support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structure is positioned adjacent the object between the object and a first side of the powder bed. The support structure has a shape that tapers outward in the direction from the first side to the object.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes measuring a build surface for building the object, determining which areas of the build surface are depressed, and initiating a build of the object at one of the depressed areas of the build surface. The initial building includes the steps of depositing a given layer of powder at the one depressed area of the build surface, fusing the given layer of powder at the one depressed area, and depositing a subsequent layer of powder at the one depressed area. The steps are repeating until the build surface is at a layer that is unified across the build surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a mechanism for feeding in a desired amount of fresh recoater blade. This can be accomplished by, for example, spooling the fresh blade material from a spool. This helps prevent work stoppage when a portion of a recoater blade becomes damaged. As such, the present disclosure also relates to a system and method for detecting whether a recoater blade is damaged, and if there is damage, then causing a fresh blade portion to be fed in.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a recoater blade to smooth out deposited powder, such that the system can sense forces on the blade and allow vertical and horizontal displacement of the blade in response to those forces. The system can change how the blade responds to those forces, for instance the blade may respond by displacing quickly and easily away from the force (a “soft” recoater), or it may resist the force (a “stiff” recoater). This allows a single recoater blade to be used in a variety of situations without work stoppage, whereas before the blade would have to be replaced.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize spoke support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel spoke support structures to be used within these AM processes. The object includes a first portion and a second portion. A first distal end of the first portion is separated from a second distal end of the second portion by a portion of unfused powder. At least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end. The method includes removing the object and the support structure from the powder bed. The method includes heat treating the object and the support structure. The support structure maintains dimensional stability of the object during the heat treatment. The method includes machining away the support structure from the first distal end and the second distal end after the heat treatment.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize thermal dissipation support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel thermal dissipation support structures to be used within these AM processes. The thermal dissipation support structures include at least one sacrificial structure that is separated from the object by a portion of unfused powder. The sacrificial structure increases a thermal dissipation rate of at least a portion of the object such that such that thermal gradients in the object remain below a specified threshold that prevents deformation of the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support surrounding structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel surrounding support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structure surrounds at least a portion of the object with a continuous thickness of powder disposed between the support structure and the object, the continuous thickness of powder having a maximum thickness that does not exceed 10 mm.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support leading edge structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel leading edge support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structure is positioned adjacent the object between the object and a first side of the powder bed.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize breakable structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel breakable support structures to be used within these AM processes. A support structure includes a weakened portion and the object includes an outlet. The method includes breaking the removable support structure at the weakened portion into at least two parts.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support structure in the process of building objects that may be removed by rotating the support structure to a second orientation before removal, as well as novel support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structures are fabricated in a first orientation and then rotated to the second orientation. The support structures are removed by passing through an outlet of the object.