Additive manufacturing systems and related methods utilizing risley prism beam steering
AssigneeVulcanForms Inc.
InventorMartin C. Feldmann
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Abstract
Additive manufacturing systems and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an additive manufacturing system includes a build surface, one or more laser energy sources configured to emit laser energy, an optical phased array operatively coupled to the one or more laser energy sources, and a Risley prism assembly comprising a plurality of wedge prisms. The optical phased array includes one or more phase shifters operatively coupled to the one or more laser energy sources and configured to control a phase of the laser energy. The optical phased array is configured to direct the laser energy towards the Risley prism assembly, and the Risley prism assembly is configured to direct the laser energy towards the build surface.
Claims12
A method for additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
- emitting laser energy from a plurality of laser energy sources;
- controlling, using an optical phased array, a phase of the laser energy emitted by each one of the plurality of laser energy sources to control a shape of at least one laser beam directed onto a build surface, wherein the optical phased array comprises a plurality of phase shifters optically coupled to the plurality of laser energy sources;
- and
- adjusting a position of the at least one laser beam on the build surface with one or more movable wedge prisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.