Additive manufacturing of high density pure tungsten by electron beam melting

•Nearly-crack free bulk material with theoretical density above 99% was produced.•Transition regime between sintering, partial, and complete melting was identified.•Performance under ITER-like stationary and transient heat loads as recrystallized W.•A columnar grain structure with a pronounced in-plane texture could be built.•Near net-shape manufacturing of ITER-type monoblocks was demonstrated.