Retaining plates and disposable build plates for additive manufacturing systems

An additive manufacturing system comprising:

• a base;
• a retaining plate coupled to the base, the retaining plate including:
• a first seat formed in an exposed surface of the retaining plate,
• a second seat formed in the exposed surface of the retaining plate, adjacent the first seat, and
• at least one pad extending laterally into at least one of the first seat or the second seat;
• at least one build plate positioned within at least one of the first seat or the second seat and contacting the at least one pad of the retaining plate, the at least one build plate including a build surface in substantial planar alignment with the exposed surface of the retaining plate;
• and
• a build plate retention component positioned at least partially within at least one of the first seat or the second seat of the retaining plate, the build plate retention component releasably coupling the at least one build plate to the retaining plate.

A retaining plate for an additive manufacturing system, the retaining plate comprising:

• an exposed surface;
• a first seat formed in the exposed surface, the first seat including a predetermined depth;
• at least one pad extending laterally into the first seat from a sidewall of the first seat;
• and
• a first group of leaf spring apertures formed in the sidewall of the first seat, each of the first group of leaf spring apertures for receiving at least one leaf spring utilized to retain a first build plate within the first seat.