Optically conductive filler for laser processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11344975-B2
Application number	US-201514682315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A filler feed wire ( 20 ) including both a laser conductive element ( 26 ) and a filler material ( 22 ) extending along a length of the wire. Laser energy ( 30 ) can be directed into a proximal end ( 32 ) of the laser conductive element for melting a distal end ( 34 ) of the feed wire to form a melt pool ( 24 ) for additive fabrication or repair. The laser conductive element may serve as a flux material. In this manner, laser energy is delivered precisely to the distal end of the feed wire, eliminating the need to separately coordinate laser beam motion with feed wire motion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filler feed wire for additive fabrication comprising:
a laser conductive element extending along and defining a length of the filler feed wire, the laser conductive element having a first end and a second end arranged to conduct a laser energy from the first end to the second end of the laser conductive element;
a metal filler material that extends along the length of the filler feed wire, the filler material having an end that is added to a melt pool for additive fabrication, welding or cladding; and
wherein the laser conductive element comprises at least one optical fiber arranged such that a portion of the laser conductive element and the filler material are added to the melt pool,
wherein the laser conductive element comprises a circular array of optical fibers that surrounds a core comprising the filler material.

2. A filler feed wire for additive fabrication comprising:
a laser conductive element extending along and defining a length of the filler feed wire, the laser conductive element having a first end and a second end arranged to conduct a laser energy from the first end to the second end of the laser conductive element;
a metal filler material that extends along the length of the filler feed wire, the filler material having an end that is added to a melt pool for additive fabrication, welding or cladding; and
wherein the laser conductive element comprises at least one optical fiber arranged such that a portion of the laser conductive element and the filler material are added to the melt pool,
wherein the laser conductive element and filler material comprises a semi-circular or C-shape in transverse section with a core disposed within the semi-circular or C-shape.

3. A filler feed wire for additive fabrication comprising:
a laser conductive element extending along and defining a length of the filler feed wire, the laser conductive element having a first end and a second end arranged to conduct a laser energy from the first end to the second end of the laser conductive element;
a metal filler material that extends along the length of the filler feed wire, the filler material having an end that is added to a melt pool for additive fabrication, welding or cladding; and
wherein the laser conductive element comprises at least one optical fiber arranged such that a portion of the laser conductive element and the filler material are added to the melt pool,
wherein the laser conductive element comprises optical fibers braided around a core comprising the filler material.

4. A filler feed wire for additive fabrication comprising:
a laser conductive element extending along and defining a length of the filler feed wire, the laser conductive element having a first end and a second end arranged to conduct a laser energy from the first end to the second end of the laser conductive element;
a metal filler material that extends along the length of the filler feed wire, the filler material having an end that is added to a melt pool for additive fabrication, welding or cladding; and
wherein the laser conductive element comprises at least one optical fiber arranged such that a portion of the laser conductive element and the filler material are added to the melt pool,
wherein the filler material and the laser conductive element extend side-by-side along the length of the filler feed wire and are joined by a binding material.

5. The filler feed wire of claim 4 , wherein the binding material comprises a powdered or fibrous material.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Bruck Gerald J
• Kamel Ahmed

Classifications

• B22F12/44

  characterised by the configuration of the radiation means · CPC title

• B22F12/41

  characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam · CPC title

• B22F10/25

  Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS] · CPC title

• B33Y70/00

  Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B23K26/0652

  comprising prisms · CPC title