Apparatus for laser materials processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10201875-B2
Application number	US-201715837067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2017
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for laser materials processing including a laser ( 4 ) for generating a laser beam and a laser head ( 5 ) which is movable along at least one spatial direction and is connected to the laser via a light guide, and which emits a laser beam ( 7 ) capable of processing a material. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for selective laser melting or selective laser sintering having an apparatus for laser materials processing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:
pushing the material using a wiper into a laser processing area;
processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes; and
drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser beam.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a housing, and the method takes place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the sealed chamber provides an inert gas atmosphere.

16. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including; a housing; a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:
processing the material using the laser beam; and
providing an inert gas atmosphere in a sealed chamber provided by the housing to prevent oxidation of the powder material during deposition.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the laser is within the sealed chamber.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the inert gas atmosphere is nitrogen.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the apparatus includes a lifting table within the sealed chamber, the lifting table holding the material being processed.

20. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:
processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes;
drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device; and
moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

23. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

24. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

25. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

27. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

28. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

31. The method as recited in claim 30 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser beam.

32. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the apparatus includes a housing, and the method takes place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

33. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein the sealed chamber provides an inert gas atmosphere.

34. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a housing, a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:
processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes;
drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device; and
moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed, the method taking place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

35. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

37. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

38. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

39. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

40. The method as recited in claim 39 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

41. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

42. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

43. The method as recited in claim 42 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

44. The method as recited in claim 43 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

45. The method as recited in claim 44 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser b

Assignees

• MTU Aero Engines AG

Inventors

• Liebl Christian
• Schlothauer Steffen

Classifications

• B23K26/16

  Removal of by-products, e.g. particles or vapours produced during treatment of a workpiece (by a fluid stream B23K26/142) · CPC title

• B23K26/342

  Build-up welding · CPC title

• C21D2251/04

  Welded or brazed overlays · CPC title

• B22F2999/00

  Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy · CPC title

• B23K26/1464

  Supply to, or discharge from, nozzles of media, e.g. gas, powder, wire · CPC title