Additive manufacturing with laser energy recycling

An area scanning laser system comprising:

• a laser processing system for forming a first portion of a laser beam with a first polarization and a second portion of the laser beam with a second polarization different from the first polarization to encode an image in the laser beam;
• a build chamber for receiving a material to be sintered or melted and the first portion of the laser beam for sintering or melting the material, wherein the build chamber includes a material heater;
• and
• a recycling system for receiving the second portion of the laser beam and for recycling radiant energy in the second portion of the laser beam, wherein the recycling system comprises a thermoelectric generator configured to convert the radiant energy from the laser beam to electric energy, and wherein the electric energy is directed to the material heater to heat the material heater.

A method for performing an additive manufacturing process comprising:

• producing a laser beam;
• forming a first portion of the laser beam with a first polarization and a second portion of the laser beam with a second polarization different from the first polarization to encode an image in the laser beam;
• directing the first portion of the laser beam from a selective mirror directly onto a material to be sintered or melted;
• directing the second portion of the laser beam from the selective mirror directly to a thermoelectric generator;
• and
• recycling the second portion of the laser beam with the thermoelectric generator.