Manufacturing machine with magnetic field beam steering
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsBenjamin Joseph Zimmerman, Adam Z. Doherty, Benjamin T. Fisk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to an example embodiment, a machine includes, among other things, a housing and a support situated for supporting a work piece in a selected position relative to the housing. A radiation source is situated for emitting a beam of radiation in the housing. A magnetic field generator is situated for generating a magnetic field in the housing near the support. The magnetic field has a selectively variable strength at a plurality of locations in the housing for selectively steering the beam of radiation toward the support.
Claims19
A machine, comprising:
- a housing;
- a support situated for supporting a work piece in a selected position relative to the housing;
- a radiation source situated for emitting a beam of radiation in the housing;
- and
- a magnetic field generator situated for generating a magnetic field in the housing near the support, the magnetic field having a selectively variable strength at a plurality of locations in the housing for selectively steering the beam of radiation toward the support.
A method of operating a machine that includes a support situated for supporting a work piece in selected position relative to a housing, comprising the steps of:
- emitting a beam of radiation in the housing;
- generating a magnetic field in the housing near the support;
- selectively varying a strength of the magnetic field at a plurality of locations in the housing for selectively steering the beam of radiation toward the support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.