CPC B22F 10/73 (2021.01) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B23K 26/342 (2015.10); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B23K 26/123 (2013.01); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] | 12 Claims |
1. A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article comprising:
(1) operating a three-dimensional printer to form a first three-dimensional article through the selective fusion of layers of metal powder in a build container with a volume of used but unfused metal powder remaining in the build container after the selective fusion of layers;
(2) transporting the used metal powder from the build container to a powder handling module;
(3) operating the powder handling module including storing the used metal powder to provide stored metal powder;
(4) transporting a volume of the stored metal powder to an agitation device;
(5) operating the agitation device to modify an avalanche angle of the metal powder to within a specified range to provide usable metal powder, the avalanche angle is a measurable material property of the metal powder, the specified range is within a range of 1 to 50 degrees;
(6) load the usable metal powder into the three-dimensional printer; and
(7) operate the three-dimensional printer to form a second three-dimensional article.
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