System and method for additive manufacturing
AssigneeGrid Logic Incorporated
InventorMatthew J. Holcomb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. A change in power transferred to the powder during a phase change in the powder is calculated to determine the quality of component formation.
Claims6
A method of induction heating powder:
- providing a first layer of the powder, the powder being formed of a material having a resistivity;
- determining a first frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce an eddy current sufficient to melt only a first portion at a surface of the powder;
- applying a first alternating magnetic field at the first frequency to the powder at a power level sufficient to melt the first portion at the surface of the powder;
- measuring a reflected power of the applied first alternating magnetic field;
- calculating a change in the reflected power of the applied first alternating magnetic field over time;
- and
- comparing the calculated change in reflected power to a predetermined value to determine a process characteristic, the process characteristic being coupling of the alternating magnetic field to the powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.