Damaged applicator identifier system for additive manufacturing system

An additive manufacturing (AM) system, comprising:

• a build platform;
• a melting beam source for sequentially building an object layer by layer on the build platform;
• a raw material source operatively coupled to the build platform for providing raw material to the build platform for the sequential building;
• an applicator system operative to apply a layer of the raw material on the build platform from the raw material source using an active applicator;
• a damaged applicator identifier configured to determine whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a test layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the test layer by the active applicator;
• and
• a damaged applicator controller configured to cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the non-planar surface in the test layer indicative of the damaged, active applicator;
• wherein the applicator system is further configured to manufacture an object after the replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator, and the object does not include the test layer.

An additive manufacturing (AM) system, comprising:

• a build platform;
• a melting beam source for sequentially building an object layer by layer on the build platform;
• a raw material source operatively coupled to the build platform for providing raw material to the build platform for the sequential building;
• an applicator system operative to apply a layer of the raw material on the build platform from the raw material source, the applicator system including a plurality of applicators including an active applicator and at least one replacement applicator for replacing a damaged, active applicator, each replacement applicator including an undamaged applicator element;
• a damaged applicator identifier configured to determine whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a test layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the test layer by the active applicator;
• and
• a damaged applicator controller configured to:
• cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the non-planar surface in the test layer indicative of the damaged, active applicator;
• wherein the applicator system is further configured to manufacture an object after the damaged applicator controller causes replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator, and the object does not include the test layer.