Apparatus and method

A method for the additive manufacture of an article using a chamber 100 containing a getter 300. In use, before the introduction of the feed material, the chamber is evacuated using vacuum pump 200, reducing the concentration of a gas within the system. Getter 300 will continue to lower the concentration of the gas, which may be oxygen, to levels of 50 ppm or below. The getter may be a substrate for additive manufacture (e.g. a base plate) and may be heated by fusion source 400 leading to melting/sublimation (e.g., by rastering of a laser or electron beam). The getter may be a stainless steel or comprise an alloy of either titanium, nickel, aluminium or cobalt. The feed material may comprise a first or second row transition metal, a group III element and/or a mixture thereof.

Additive manufacturing using heated gettering