General Electric Company
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING GROWTH BUILD WALL HEAT PASSAGEWAYS

Abstract:

Methods are generally provided for making an object(s) from powder. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) applying a layer of powder on a build platform; (b) irradiating at least part of a layer of powder to form a build wall defining at least one internal cavity therein; (c) moving at least one of the build platform downward or the build unit upward in a direction substantially normal to the layer of powder; and (d) repeating at least steps (a) through (c) to form the build wall. The build wall defines at least one passageway therein, and wherein the at least one passageway has an inlet and an outlet defined in the layer of powder.