Additive manufacturing with laser and plasma
US-2017203364-A1 · Jul 20, 2017 · US
Applying electric pulses through a laser induced plasma channel for use in a 3-D metal printing process
US10639714B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10639714-B2 |
| Application number | US-201715794854-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | Oct 26, 2017 |
| Publication date | May 5, 2020 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2020 |
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Abstract
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A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes irradiating a portion of powder in a powder bed, the irradiation creating an ion channel extending to the powder. The method also includes applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the powder in the powder bed, and energy from the irradiation and the electrical energy each contribute to melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
The invention claimed is: 1. A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing, comprising: irradiating a portion of powder in a powder bed, wherein the irradiation creates an ion channel extending to the powder; and applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the powder in the powder bed, wherein energy from the irradiation and the electrical energy each contribute to melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy from the irradiation is emitted by a laser power supply. 3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ion channel is a laser induced plasma channel. 4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy is supplied by an electrical power supply. 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy is an electric pulse. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy from the irradiation and electrical energy are controlled to contribute to the melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed simultaneously. 7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy from the irradiation and electrical energy are controlled to contribute to the melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed consecutively. 8. A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing, comprising: (a) depositing a given layer of powder in a powder bed; (b) irradiating the given layer of powder in the powder bed, wherein the irradiation creates an ion channel extending to the given layer; (c) applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the given layer of powder in the powder bed; (d) depositing a subsequent layer of powder; and (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) until the object is formed in the powder bed. 9. The method of claim 8 , wherein energy from the irradiation and the electrical energy each contribute to melting or sintering a portion of the powder in the powder bed. 10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy from the irradiation is emitted by a laser power supply. 11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrical energy is supplied by an electrical power supply. 12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy from the irradiation and electrical energy are controlled to contribute to the melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed simultaneously. 13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy from the irradiation and electrical energy are controlled to contribute to the melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed consecutively.
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Classifications
in combination with welding or cutting covered by groups B23K5/00 - B23K25/00, e.g. in combination with resistance welding · CPC title
Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title
Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title
comprising mirrors · CPC title
comprising lenses · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US10639714B2 cover?
- A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes irradiating a portion of powder in a powder bed, the irradiation creating an ion channel extending to the powder. The method also includes applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the powder in the powder bed, and energy from …
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Gen Electric
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B22F3/105. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue May 05 2020 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 4 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).