Device for controlling additive manufacturing machinery

An electron beam melt machine comprising:

• an electron beam generator configured to generate an electron beam utilized to melt and fuse raw material to manufacture a part;
• and
• a computing device for controlling the operation of the electron beam melt machine, the computing device comprising
• a memory element configured to store a three-dimensional model of the part, the three-dimensional model defining a plurality of cross sections of the part, and
• a processing element in electronic communication with the memory element, the processing element configured to
• receive the three-dimensional model,
• determine a path across a surface of each cross section, the path including a plurality of parallel lines,
• calculate a power for a electron beam to scan each of the lines, such that the power varies non-linearly according to a length of the line for each line,
• calculate a scan speed for the electron beam for each of the lines, such that the scan speed varies non-linearly according to the power of the electron beam for each line,
• generate a first signal to be received by a first component that controls power delivered by the radiation beam, control the power delivered to the radiation beam based on the first signal, the first signal including an electrical characteristic or data that varies according to each determined radiation beam power, and
• generate a second signal to be received by a second component that controls a motion of the radiation beam, control the motion of the radiation beam based on the second signal, the second signal including an electrical characteristic or data that varies according to each determined radiation beam scan speed.

A method for controlling the operation of an electron beam melt machine, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a three-dimensional model including data defining a plurality of cross sections of a part to be manufactured;
• determining a path across a surface of each cross section, the path including a plurality of parallel lines;
• calculating a power for an electron beam to scan each of the lines, such that the power varies non-linearly according to a length of the line for each line;
• calculating a scan speed for the electron beam for each of the lines, such that the scan speed varies non-linearly according to the power of the electron beam for each line;
• generating a first signal to be received by a first component that controls power delivered by the radiation beam, controlling the power delivered to the radiation beam based on the first signal, the first signal including an electrical characteristic or data that varies according to each determined radiation beam power;
• and
• generating a second signal to be received by a second component that controls a motion of the radiation beam, controlling the motion of the radiation beam based on the second signal, the second signal including an electrical characteristic or data that varies according to each determined radiation beam scan speed.