Method of manufacturing a component
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsDaniel CLARK, Clive GRAFTON-REED
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for manufacturing a component and a method of manufacturing a component. The method comprises the steps of directing a beam of energy to heat a working region of a substrate and adjusting the cross sectional shape of the beam to thereby generate a variety of predetermined cross sectional shapes of working region while the beam is being directed onto the substrate. Thus the distribution of energy delivered to the substrate is controlled during the manufacturing process. The cross sectional shape and area of the beam is repeatedly monitored and compared to a library of predetermined cross sectional shape(s) and area(s).
Claims19
A method of manufacturing a component comprising the steps of
- directing a beam of energy to heat a working region of a substrate;
- adjusting the cross sectional shape of the beam to thereby generate a variety of predetermined cross sectional shapes of working region while the beam is being directed onto the substrate
- to thereby control the distribution of energy delivered to the substrate during the manufacturing process
- wherein the cross sectional shape and area of the beam is repeatedly monitored and compared to a library of predetermined cross sectional shape(s) and area(s).
Apparatus for manufacture of a component by a material deposition process comprising
- a heating means operable to direct a beam of energy to heat a working region of a substrate;
- and
- a means for adjusting the cross sectional shape of the beam to thereby generate a variety of predetermined cross sectional shapes of working region;
- said means for adjusting the cross sectional shape beam being operable to adjust the cross sectional shape of the working region while the beam is being directed onto the substrate
- wherein the apparatus further comprises a monitoring means operable to monitor the cross-sectional shape and area of the beam, and the monitoring means provides an input to a comparator means operable to compare the actual and a predetermined cross sectional shape(s) and areas(s) of the beam and generate a signal indicating any disparity between the actual and predetermined cross sectional shape(s) and areas(s) of the beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.