Powder bed fusion additive printer build head

A method of operating a powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing system, comprising:

• providing in the PBF additive manufacturing system a build head comprising:
• a powder delivery mechanism configured to deliver build powder to a build area of an annular build plate to form a build powder bed while the annular build plate rotates when the PBF additive manufacturing system is in operation;
• a recoater configured to provide even distribution of the build powder in the build powder bed while the annular build plate rotates when the PBF additive manufacturing system is in operation;
• and
• an optical array positioned over the build area on the build plate, wherein the optical array is configured to project energy onto the build powder bed to form a melt pool in the build powder bed while the annular build plate rotates when the PBF additive manufacturing system is in operation;
• delivering, with the powder delivery mechanism, build powder to the build area to form a build powder bed while the build plate rotates;
• distributing, with a recoater, the build powder in the build powder bed to provide even distribution of the build powder in the build powder bed while the build plate rotates;
• directing energy, from the optical array positioned over the build area on the build plate, to the build powder in the build powder bed to form a melt pool in the build powder bed while the build plate rotates;
• and
• selectively sintering, using energy from the optical array, build powder from the melt pool to form a layer of a consolidated part while the build plate rotates.