Determining temperature of print zone in additive manufacturing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018364104-A1
Application number	US-201515747055-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples of determining the temperature of a print zone in an additive manufacturing system are described. In one case, the additive manufacturing system comprises a print zone, a radiation source, an infra-red sensor and an ambient light sensor. The infra-red sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the print zone, and the ambient light sensor is configured to measure visible electromagnetic radiation. The additive manufacturing system comprises a temperature controller to compensate data from the infra-red sensor for infra-red radiation from the radiation source using data from the ambient light sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An additive manufacturing system comprising:
a print zone; a radiation source to heat the print zone; an infra-red sensor to measure a temperature of the print zone; an ambient light sensor positioned in an orientation corresponding to the infra-red sensor, the ambient light sensor being arranged to measure visible electromagnetic radiation; and a temperature controller to compensate data from the infra-red sensor for infra-red radiation from the radiation source using data from the ambient light sensor.

2 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , comprising:
a spectral filter located between the print zone and the infra-red sensor, wherein the spectral filter does not transmit visible light.

3 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , comprising:
at least one additional ambient light sensor, wherein each of the ambient light sensor and the additional ambient light sensor have a field of view narrower than the field of view of the infra-red sensor.

4 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 3 , wherein each additional ambient light sensor is positioned in an orientation corresponding to a control zone of the infra-red sensor.

5 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the infra-red sensor is a thermal imaging camera.

6 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , comprising:
an additional radiation source to heat the print zone.

7 . A method for determining a temperature of a print zone in an additive manufacturing system, the print zone receiving electro-magnetic radiation from a radiation source, the method comprising:
obtaining a measurement of infra-red radiation from the print zone; obtaining a measurement of ambient light, the ambient light comprising visible electromagnetic radiation; and determining the temperature of the print zone using the measurement of infra-red radiation including using the measurement of ambient light to compensate for infra-red radiation from the radiation source.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the print zone comprises a build surface and an object undergoing additive manufacturing.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the measurement of ambient light comprises an intensity of ambient light.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the ambient light comprises light emitted by the radiation source, which is then reflected from the print zone.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the temperature of the print zone comprises:
inferring the intensity of infra-red radiation emitted by the radiation source based on visible light emitted by the radiation source; and adjusting the measurement of infra-red radiation from the print zone such that the contribution to the measurement of infra-red radiation from the radiation source is reduced.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
obtaining a measurement of ambient light comprises determining a portion of an electromagnetic radiation spectrum having a first wavelength range, the first wavelength range comprising at least one visible wavelength; and inferring the intensity of infra-red radiation emitted by the radiation source comprises inferring a portion of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum having a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range comprising at least one infra-red wavelength.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
obtain data from an infra-red sensor orientated at a print zone in an additive manufacturing system, the print zone being illuminated by at least one lamp; obtain data from a visible light sensor positioned such that it senses visible light from the print zone; determine a profile of infra-red radiation emitted by the at least one lamp using the data from the visible light sensor; and determine a temperature of the print zone by adjusting the data from the infra-red sensor according to the profile of infra-red radiation emitted by the at least one lamp.

14 . The medium of claim 13 , wherein the profile of infra-red radiation comprises an infra-red radiation spectrum.

15 . The medium of claim 14 , wherein said instructions cause the at least one processor to subtract the profile of infra-red radiation from a spectrum obtained using the infra-red sensor.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Vilajosana Xavier
• Valero Navazo Juan Manuel
• Ferran Farres Marina

Classifications

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G01J5/0846 Primary

  having multiple detectors for performing different types of detection, e.g. using radiometry and reflectometry channels · CPC title

• B29C64/295

  Heating elements · CPC title