General Electric Company
Systems and methods for lateral material transfer in additive manufacturing system

Abstract:

An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform, a plurality of particles positioned on the build platform defining a build layer, a first and second region within the build layer, and at least one consolidation device. The first region and the second region each including a portion of the plurality of particles. The at least one consolidation device is configured to consolidate the plurality of particles within the build layer into a solid, consolidated portion of said build layer. The consolidation device is further configured to consolidate at least one of the plurality of particles within the build layer and the solid, consolidated portion of the build layer into a molten volume of transfer material. The consolidation device is further configured to transfer a portion of the molten volume of transfer material within the first region from the first region to the second region.