Additive manufacturing systems including an imaging device and methods of operating such systems

A method of manufacturing a part using an additive manufacturing system, said method comprising:

• depositing a layer of particulate on a surface;
• heating the particulate to a melting point of the particulate using a focused energy source;
• directing a beam of the focused energy source at the particulate;
• forming a melt pool of the particulate, wherein said melt pool emits a melt pool light;
• moving the beam of the focused energy source to generate a melt pool path;
• receiving a signal indicating the commencement of a build layer of the part;
• exposing a camera to the melt pool light;
• receiving a signal indicating the completion of a build layer of the part;
• and
• generating a time exposure image of at least a portion of the melt pool path with the camera by positioning a shutter of the camera in an open position for a period of time longer than one minute.

An imaging device for use in an additive manufacturing system including a surface holding a particulate and a focused energy source configured to generate at least one beam that moves along the surface to heat the particulate to a melting point, said imaging device comprising:

• a camera comprising:
• a sensor;
• a casing defining an aperture for light to travel through and strike said sensor;
• a trigger configured to receive a signal relating to an operating characteristic of the focused energy source and to control the travel of light through the aperture based on the signal such that said camera generates a time exposure image of the particulate during operation of the focused energy source;
• and
• a shutter positionable between an open position that allows light to travel through the aperture and a closed position that inhibits light traveling through the aperture, said trigger configured to maintain said shutter in the open position for a period of time longer than one minute based on a build time of a component formed by the additive manufacturing system, wherein said trigger is configured to position said shutter in the open position at the commencement of a layer build and position said shutter in a closed position at the completion of the layer build.