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Method for additive manufacturing

  • US 10,549,348 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2017
  • Issued: 02/04/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a metal powder bed, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the method comprising the steps of:

  • distributing a titanium alloy or pure titanium powder layer on a work table inside a vacuum chamber, where at least one gas comprising hydrogen is absorbed into or chemically bonded to the titanium or titanium alloy powder to a concentration of 0.01-0.5% by weight of the hydrogen,directing at least one electron beam from at least one electron beam source over the work table causing the powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article,distributing a second powder layer on the work table of a titanium alloy or pure titanium inside the build chamber, where at least one gas comprising hydrogen is absorbed into or chemically bonded to the titanium or titanium alloy powder to a concentration of 0.01-0.5% by weight of the hydrogen,directing the at least one electron beam over the work table causing the second powder cross section to fuse in selected locations to form a second cross section of the three-dimensional article, wherein the second layer is bonded to the first cross section, andreleasing a predefined concentration of the at least one gas from the titanium or titanium alloy powder into the vacuum chamber when at least one of heating or fusing each powder layer,wherein at least a portion of the released gas is configured for forming ions when being irradiated by the at least one electron beam such that ions are formed for balancing an amount of charged powder particles produced by the at least one electron beam to keep the electrical field strength below Emax.

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