Pyrometric detection device, method for calibrating the same, and apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903762-B2
Application number	US-201514940838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A pyrometric detection device for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces comprises a pyrometric detecting unit ( 10 ) configured to receive thermal radiation emitted at different points of a detection plane in a detection direction and a calibration device ( 12 ) comprising a substrate ( 14 ) and a plurality of light guides ( 16 ) each having a first end ( 18 ) for coupling light into the light guide ( 16 ) and a second end ( 20 ) for emitting light from the light guide ( 16 ), the second end ( 20 ) being fixed to the substrate ( 14 ). The substrate ( 14 ) is adapted to be removably arranged relative to the pyrometric detecting unit ( 10 ) in such a manner that the second ends ( 20 ) of the plurality of light guides ( 16 ) are arranged in the detection plane and emit light in the detection direction, in a calibration state of the pyrometric detection device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pyrometric detection device comprising:
a pyrometric detecting unit configured to receive thermal radiation emitted at different points of a detection plane in a detection direction, and
a calibration device comprising a substrate and a plurality of light guides, each light guide having a first end for coupling light into the light guide and a second end for emitting light from the light guide, the second end being fixed to the substrate, wherein
the substrate is adapted to be removably arranged relative to the pyrometric detecting unit in such a manner that the second ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged in the detection plane and emit light in the detection direction, in a calibration state of the pyrometric detection device.

2. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate is plate-shaped; and
the second ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged in a plane corresponding to an upper surface of the plate-shaped substrate.

3. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the light guides is directed through a through-hole in the substrate.

4. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second ends of the plurality of light guides are fixed to the substrate such that a main light emission direction of each light guide corresponds to the detection direction of the pyrometric detecting unit, in the calibration state.

5. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 4 , wherein
the second ends of the plurality of light guides are fixed to the substrate such that they are oriented in the detection direction of the pyrometric detecting unit, in the calibration state.

6. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged on the substrate in the form of a matrix.

7. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a light source adapted to couple light into each of the plurality of light guides via their first ends, wherein
the intensity of the light coupled into each of the plurality of light guides is substantially the same.

8. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein
the light guides are glass fibers; and
the first ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged next to each other in the form of a bundle.

9. The pyrometric detection device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the light guides has the same length.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a carrier;
a powder applicator for applying a raw material powder onto the carrier;
an irradiator for selectively irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the surface of the carrier; and
a pyrometric detection device comprising:
a pyrometric detector configured to receive thermal radiation emitted at different points of a detection plane in a detection direction; and
a calibration device comprising a substrate and a plurality of light guides, each light guide having a first end for coupling light into the light guide and a second end for emitting light from the light guide, the second end being fixed to the substrate, wherein
the substrate is adapted to be removably arranged relative to the pyrometric detector in such a manner that the second ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged in the detection plane and emit light in the detection direction, in a calibration state of the pyrometric detection device; and
wherein the detection plane of the pyrometric detection device corresponds to an irradiation plane defined on the carrier.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the pyrometric detection device further comprises:
a light source adapted to couple light into each of the plurality of light guides via their first ends, wherein the intensity of the light coupled into each of the plurality of light guides is substantially the same; and
in the calibration state, the substrate, the plurality of light guides, and the light source are arranged inside a hermetically sealed chamber of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the irradiator comprises a laser source configured to emit a laser beam and a light directing unit configured to direct the laser beam to predetermined points of the irradiation plane.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the light directing unit is configured to direct the thermal radiation emitted at the different points of the detection plane to the pyrometric detector; and
the detection direction at each point of the detection plane is opposite to an incidence direction of the laser beam.

14. A method for calibrating a pyrometric detection device for use in producing three-dimensional work pieces, the method comprising:
removably arranging a calibration device relative to a pyrometric detecting unit configured to receive thermal radiation emitted at different points of a detection plane in a detection direction, the calibration device comprising a substrate and a plurality of light guides, each light guide having a first end for coupling light into the light guide and a second end for emitting light from the light guide, the second end being fixed to the substrate, wherein the second ends of the plurality of light guides are arranged in the detection plane;
coupling light into each of the plurality of light guides via the first ends;
individually measuring the intensity of light emitted from each of the second ends of the plurality of light guides in the detection direction by means of the pyrometric detecting unit; and
calibrating the pyrometric detecting unit based on the results of the intensity measurements.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein
the intensity of the light coupled into each of the plurality of light guides is substantially the same.

Assignees

• SLM Solutions Group AG

Inventors

• Schwarze Dieter
• Alberts Daniel

Classifications

• B29C64/264

  Arrangements for irradiation · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G01J5/602

  using selective, monochromatic or bandpass filtering · CPC title

• G01J5/047

  Mobile mounting; Scanning arrangements · CPC title

• G01J5/0003 Primary

  for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter · CPC title