Importance

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Abstract

An embodiment of an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first reservoir adapted to store at least one raw material feedstock proximate to a working surface, a recoater, an energy beam generator, and an ultrasonic wroughting system. The recoater is configured to transfer a portion of the at least one raw material feedstock, on a layer-by-layer basis, from the first reservoir to either the working surface or to an in-process component disposed on the working surface. The energy beam generator is capable of producing and directing at least one energy beam toward the working surface with sufficient energy to melt and consolidate, on a layer-by-layer basis, the transferred portions of the at least one raw material feedstock into corresponding bulk material layers of the in-process component. The ultrasonic wroughting system is capable of producing and directing ultrasonic waves to at least a topmost of the bulk material layers sufficient to compress at least a topmost of the bulk material layers along at least a build axis of the in-process component.

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First Claim