CPC B29C 64/153 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B23K 26/0869 (2013.01); B23K 26/142 (2015.10); B23K 26/342 (2015.10); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 10/10 (2021.01); B22F 10/322 (2021.01); B22F 10/36 (2021.01); B22F 10/366 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); B22F 12/63 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01); B23K 26/1437 (2015.10); B23K 26/1438 (2015.10); B28B 1/001 (2013.01); Y02P 10/25 (2015.11)] | 24 Claims |
1. A method of selectively melting a plurality of powder layers deposited on a powder bed to form a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:
passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction; and
scanning a laser beam along a scan path on each of the plurality of powder layers to selectively melt at least part of each of the powder layers to form a required pattern,
wherein, for each of the plurality of powder layers, a direction along which the laser beam is moved is orientated relative to the gas flow direction to substantially prevent any particles ejected during the selective melting and carried by the flow of gas from substantially attenuating the laser beam when melting regions of the scan path that have yet to be scanned.
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