System and method for distributing raw material powder to a plurality of additive manufacturing machines

An additive manufacturing facility comprising:

• a plurality of at least two additive manufacturing machines for parallel additive manufacturing of three-dimensional work pieces, and
• a system according to any of the preceding claims for distributing raw material powder from a reservoir of raw material powder to the at least two additive manufacturing machines.

A method for distributing raw material powder from a reservoir of raw material powder to a plurality of at least two additive manufacturing machines for parallel additive manufacturing of three-dimensional work pieces, the method comprising:

• selectively regulating a gas flow in at least two conveying lines, wherein each of the at least two conveying lines is associated with one of the at least two additive manufacturing machines for the conveying raw material powder to the associated additive manufacturing machine by the gas flow;
• and
• selectively opening and closing at least two shut-off valves of a feeding manifold, wherein each shut-off valve is associated with one of the at least two conveying lines for selectively letting raw material powder fall into the gas flow in the associated conveying line.