MULTIMODULAR RING MODE FIBER OPTIC CONFIGURATION, FINE PROCESS CONTROL STRATEGY FOR PRINTER OPTICS, AND LASER POWDER BED FUSION POWER CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION BY FEEDSTOCK MANIPULATION

    公开(公告)号:US20240383040A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-11-21

    申请号:US18669455

    申请日:2024-05-20

    Abstract: Systems and methods for multi modular ring mode fiber optic configuration, laser powder bed fusion, and fine process control during an additive manufacturing (AM) process. A multi-mode ring laser beam with a first power distributed in a first beam is generated, as a spot beam or a first ring beam, and a second power distributed in a second ring beam surrounding the first beam. The multi-mode ring laser beam is applied to one or more materials to transform the material(s) into an AM build piece. An AM method includes depositing a powder first material in a powder bed, exposing the powder first material to a second material, wherein an absorption coefficient of the second material is higher than an absorption coefficient of the first material at the wavelength, and applying a laser beam with a wavelength to the powder first material and the second material to generate a composite material. An AM method includes controlling an optical component to apply a laser beam to a region of material during an AM process, receiving sensor data regarding the region; determining a process characteristic of the region based on the sensor data, obtaining a comparison by comparing the process characteristic to a target characteristic, and modifying a variable corresponding to control of the optical component based on the comparison that modifies a printing output in accordance with a target output.

    THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTER WITH CONFIGURABLE BUILD PLATE FOR RAPID POWDER REMOVAL

    公开(公告)号:US20220193779A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-23

    申请号:US17520582

    申请日:2021-11-05

    Abstract: Techniques for rapid powder removal in a 3-D printer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the 3-D printer has a build plate for supporting a build piece. The build plate includes first structures for supporting unfused powder on a top of the build plate when the first structures are in a closed configuration. The first structures can transition to an open configuration to expose paths for allowing the unfused powder to pass through the build plate, and a second structure for preventing the build piece from passing through the build plate when the first structures are in the open configuration. In various embodiments, the unfused powder can thereafter be replaced with cool powder to assist in forming a predictable microstructure that makes up the build piece.

    ELECTROSTATIC SOOT CAPTURING PLATE ASSOCIATED WITH A BUILD CHAMBER OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3-D) PRINTER

    公开(公告)号:US20240383020A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-11-21

    申请号:US18668039

    申请日:2024-05-17

    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attracting and/or repelling byproducts in a build chamber of a powder-bed fusion system by one or more electrostatically charged plates. The method and apparatus may deliver material to the build chamber of the powder-bed fusion system by a material depositor. An energy beam source may generate an energy beam and apply the energy beam to the material such that the energy beam generates byproducts in the build chamber when applied to the material. One or more electrostatically charged plates are associated with one or more walls of the build chamber to attract and/or repel at least a portion of the byproducts in the build chamber such that the byproducts attached to the surface of the electrostatically charged plates and/or exit the build chamber without damaging a build piece or components of the powder-bed fusion system.

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