Long and high resolution structures formed by additive manufacturing techniques

A method of additive manufacture in a three-dimensional space corresponding to longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions that are orthogonal to one another, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a machine comprising an energy-patterning system and a conveyor positioned below at least a portion of the energy-patterning system;
• and
• executing, by the machine, an additive manufacture of a continuous part, the executing comprising;
• sequentially advancing, by the conveyor, each portion of the continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone;
• amalgamating, by the energy-patterning system, selected granules of a granular material supported by the conveyor within the first zone by directed radiant energy to the selected granules,
• removing, within the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material;
• advancing, by the conveyer, a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone;
• and
• determining a current position or orientation of the continuous part by locating one or more features of a feature map in an intersecting wall that intersects two neighboring portions of the continuous part,
• wherein the amalgamating the selected granules of the granular material comprises:
• cooling active and passive elements used to handle the beam used in the amalgamating.