Method and apparatus for additive manufacturing

A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of applied powder, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article;
• providing a predetermined amount of powder at a build support;
• directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support;
• directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article;
• and
• rotating said build support around an axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation,
• wherein at least one of:
• said powder is sintered using at least one electron beam and fused using at least said laser beam;
• said powder is sintered using at least one laser beam and fused using at least one electron beam;
• said powder is sintered using a first electron beam source and fused using at least a second electron beam source;
• or
• said powder is sintered using a first laser beam source and fused using at least a second laser beam source.

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of applied powder, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article;
• means for providing a predetermined amount of powder on a build support, wherein an axis of rotation of said build support is provided in a horizontal direction;
• means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support;
• means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article;
• and
• a motor for rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation,
• wherein powder is provided continuously throughout the forming of the three-dimensional article, and newly applied powder is sintered continuously in order to attach said powder on said build support or a previously manufactured layer of the three-dimensional article.

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of applied powder, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article;
• means for providing a predetermined amount of powder on a build support;
• means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support;
• means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article;
• and
• a motor for rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation,
• wherein at least one of:
• at least an electron beam is used for sintering said powder and at least a laser beam is used for fusing said powder;
• at least a laser beam is used for sintering said powder and at least an electron beam is used for fusing said powder;
• at least a first electron beam source is used for sintering said powder and at least a second electron beam source is used for fusing said powder;
• or
• at least a first laser beam source is used for sintering said powder and at least a second laser beam source is used for fusing said powder.