General Electric Company
Methods and support structures leveraging grown build envelope

Abstract:

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a method for fabricating an object. The method includes (a) irradiating a layer of powder in a build area above a build platform to form a fused region; (b) providing a subsequent layer of powder over the build area; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until at least a portion of the object, a support structure, and a build envelope are formed; and (d) removing the object from the build envelope and the support structure. The support structure extends from an inner surface of the build envelope to a location proximate a location of the object to be built.