Methods of and systems for materials processing using optical beams

    公开(公告)号:US10739621B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-11

    申请号:US15938790

    申请日:2018-03-28

    Applicant: nLIGHT, Inc.

    Abstract: A method of materials processing using an optical beam includes: launching the optical beam into a first length of fiber having a first refractive-index profile (RIP); coupling the optical beam from the first length of fiber into a second length of fiber having a second RIP; modifying one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam in the first length of fiber, in the second length of fiber, or in the first and second lengths of fiber; and/or generating an output beam, having the modified one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam, from the second length of fiber. The first RIP can be the same as or differ from the second RIP. The modifying of the one or more beam characteristics can include changing the one or more beam characteristics from a first state to a second state. The first state can differ from the second state.

    Method of forming pores in three-dimensional objects

    公开(公告)号:US10661391B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-26

    申请号:US15882292

    申请日:2018-01-29

    Applicant: nLIGHT, Inc.

    Abstract: A method of making a porous three-dimensional object. The method comprises: a) positioning a first layer of particles on a build plate; b) heating the first layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a first build layer having a first porosity; c) exposing the first build layer to a laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed first build layer having a first modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from an optical fiber; d) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam prior to or during the exposing of the first build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; e) positioning an additional layer of particles on the exposed first build layer; f) heating the additional layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a second build layer having a second porosity; g) exposing the second build layer to the laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed second build layer having a second modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; h) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam after fusing the particles to form the second build layer and prior to or during the exposing of the second build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber, and i) repeating e), f), optionally g) and optionally h) to form a three-dimensional object.

    METHOD OF FORMING PORES IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

    公开(公告)号:US20180161935A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-06-14

    申请号:US15882292

    申请日:2018-01-29

    Applicant: nLIGHT, Inc.

    Abstract: A method of making a porous three-dimensional object. The method comprises: a) positioning a first layer of particles on a build plate; b) heating the first layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a first build layer having a first porosity; c) exposing the first build layer to a laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed first build layer having a first modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from an optical fiber; d) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam prior to or during the exposing of the first build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; e) positioning an additional layer of particles on the exposed first build layer; f) heating the additional layer of particles sufficiently to fuse the particles together to form a second build layer having a second porosity; g) exposing the second build layer to the laser beam to form one or more pores, the exposed second build layer having a second modified porosity, the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber; h) adjusting one or more beam characteristics of the laser beam after fusing the particles to form the second build layer and prior to or during the exposing of the second build layer, the adjusting of the laser beam occurring prior to the laser beam being emitted from the optical fiber, and i) repeating e), f), optionally g) and optionally h) to form a three-dimensional object.

    Systems and methods for modifying beam characteristics

    公开(公告)号:US10663769B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-26

    申请号:US15939141

    申请日:2018-03-28

    Applicant: nLIGHT, Inc.

    Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying an optical beam and adjusting one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam are provided. The system may include a first length of fiber operably coupled with an optical beam source and configured to receive an optical beam therefrom. The system may also include a perturbation device operably coupled with the first length of fiber and configured to modify the optical beam traversing therethrough, and a second length of fiber operably coupled with the first length of fiber and configured to receive the modified optical beam therefrom. The system may further include a beam shaping assembly configured to receive the modified optical beam from the second length of fiber, adjust one or more beam characteristics of the modified optical beam, and direct the adjusted optical beam to a downstream process.

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