US 10,882,135 B2 · Apparatus for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects

Abstract

An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects includes a scanning unit configured to scan an energy beam over a build plane, and a focusing unit that includes an optical lens or lens system. The focusing unit may be configured to control a focal position of the energy beam based on calibration information. The focal position may be controlled by moving the focusing unit in the z-direction relative to the build plane without changing the focal length of the energy beam. Methods of calibrating such an apparatus may include moving a focusing unit in the z-direction relative to a build plane based on calibration information and scanning an energy beam over at least a portion of the build plane using a scanning unit, with the focusing unit being configured to control a focal position of the energy beam without changing the focal length of the energy beam.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:

a scanner configured to scan an energy beam over at least a portion of a build plane defined by a layer of powdered build material;
and
a focusing unit comprising an optical lens or lens system, the focusing unit configured to control a focal position of the energy beam based at least in part on calibration information, at least in part to cause a defined defocus of the energy beam with respect to a target focal position, the defined defocus selected to impart a defined energy entry into one or more irradiated regions of the layer of powdered build material, the focal position controlled by moving the focusing unit in the z-direction relative to the build plane without changing the focal length of the energy beam;
wherein the energy beam is configured to irradiate and consolidate successive layers of powdered build material to form an additively manufactured three-dimensional object.

1 more element

A method of calibrating an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the method comprising:

moving a focusing unit comprising an optical lens or lens system in the z-direction relative to a build plane based at least in part on calibration information and scanning an energy beam over at least a portion of the build plane using a scanner, the build plane defined by a layer of powdered build material;
controlling a focal position of the energy beam with the focusing unit without changing the focal length of the energy beam at least in part to cause a defined defocus of the energy beam with respect to a target focal position, the defined defocus selected to impart a defined energy entry into one or more irradiated regions of the layer of powdered build material;
wherein the energy beam is configured to irradiate and consolidate successive layers of powdered build material to form an additively manufactured three-dimensional object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects

Life of this patent

Apparatus for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19