General Electric Company

Timothy Joseph Wilhelm

Andrew J Martin

John Joseph Madelone, Jr

Donald Dana Lowe

Adam G Susong

Jr John Joseph Madelone

Methods and systems for fabricating a component by consolidating a first portion of a particulate include a louvered particulate containment wall positioned around the component and a second portion of the particulate. At least one louver is coupled to the particulate containment wall adjacent at least one opening in the particulate containment wall. The particulate containment wall is positionable between a first position in which the louver prevents the second portion of the particulate from flowing through the passage and a second position in which the second portion of the particulate is able to flow through the passage. The methods include switching the particulate containment wall from the first position to the second position and allowing the second portion of the particulate to flow out of the interior space through the at least one opening.

Additive manufacturing systems and methods including louvered particulate containment wall

A system for additively manufacturing components includes a build chamber and a build plate on which a component and a containment wall surrounding the component are additively formed. The containment wall surrounds the component such that powder is present between the component and the containment wall, with the containment wall including first and second portions joined together at a separation line. Additionally, the build plate is positioned within the build chamber. Furthermore, a tooling assembly configured to split the containment wall at the separation line and pull the first portion of the containment wall away from the second portion of the containment wall while the build plate is present within the build chamber such that a portion of the powder is exposed. Moreover, a vacuum configured to remove the exposed portion of the powder from the build chamber while the build plate is present within the build chamber.

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Miamisburg, OH, United States of America

Timothy Joseph Wilhelm