An additive manufacturing system comprising: a build plate having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a powder spreading unit having a plurality of recoater blades configured to spread powder (298, 298A, 298B) onto the build plate, at least one of the plurality of recoater blades extending at least partially along the lateral axis and being configured to move relative to the build plate along the longitudinal axis; and at least one vibration mechanism coupled to one or more of the build plate and the at least one of the plurality of recoater blades, the at least one vibration mechanism being configured for vibratory compaction of the powder (298, 298A, 298B) spread on the build plate, and including an array of vibration mechanisms coupled to the at least one of the plurality of recoater blades, extending at least in a direction of the lateral axis, or coupled to the build plate, extending along one or more of the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, wherein the plurality of recoater blades includes a first recoater blade and a second recoater blade, the first recoater blade having a first serration pattern on an end nearest the powder (298, 298A, 298B) on the build plate, and the second recoater blade having a second serration pattern on an end nearest the powder (298, 298A, 298B) on the build plate, wherein the first serration pattern and the second serration pattern is different from one another, wherein at least one serration of the first serration pattern is arranged at a first angle relative to a reference plane that extends normal from the build plate and at least one serration of the second serration pattern is arranged at a second angle relative to the reference plane, the first angle being different than the second angle, to move powder particles of the powder in a direction transverse to a travel direction of the powder spreading unit. a build plate having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a powder spreading unit having a plurality of recoater blades configured to spread powder (298, 298A, 298B) onto the build plate, at least one of the plurality of recoater blades extending at least partially along the lateral axis and being configured to move relative to the build plate along the longitudinal axis; and at least one vibration mechanism coupled to one or more of the build plate and the at least one of the plurality of recoater blades, the at least one vibration mechanism being configured for vibratory compaction of the powder (298, 298A, 298B) spread on the build plate, and including an array of vibration mechanisms coupled to the at least one of the plurality of recoater blades, extending at least in a direction of the lateral axis, or coupled to the build plate, extending along one or more of the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, wherein the plurality of recoater blades includes a first recoater blade and a second recoater blade, the first recoater blade having a first serration pattern on an end nearest the powder (298, 298A, 298B) on the build plate, and the second recoater blade having a second serration pattern on an end nearest the powder (298, 298A, 298B) on the build plate, wherein the first serration pattern and the second serration pattern is different from one another, wherein at least one serration of the first serration pattern is arranged at a first angle relative to a reference plane that extends normal from the build plate and at least one serration of the second serration pattern is arranged at a second angle relative to the reference plane, the first angle being different than the second angle, to move powder particles of the powder in a direction transverse to a travel direction of the powder spreading unit.