Ultrasonic sensor based in-situ diagnostics for at least one of additive manufacturing and 3d printers
AssigneeUniversity of North Texas
InventorsArup NEOGI, Yuqi JIN, Teng YANG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A monitoring technique for a melting process including monitoring a melt pool produced by a heat source during the melting process, the monitoring comprising measuring ultrasonic time of flight of the melt pool via one or more ultrasonic transducers, wherein the melt pool comprises one or more metals, alloys, or a combination thereof. A system for carrying out the monitoring technique, and melting processes and systems utilizing the monitoring technique are also provided.
Claims20
A monitoring technique for a melting process, the monitoring technique comprising:
- monitoring a melt pool produced by a heat source during the melting process, the monitoring comprising measuring an ultrasonic time of flight of the melt pool via one or more ultrasonic transducers, wherein the melt pool comprises one or more metals, alloys, or a combination thereof.
A melting process to process a workpiece to provide a processed workpiece, the melting process comprising:
- applying heat from a heat source to the workpiece, wherein applying the heat source to the workpiece produces a melt pool;
- and
- monitoring the melt pool in real time or substantially real time by measuring an ultrasonic time of flight of the melt pool using one or more ultrasonic transducers, wherein the melt pool comprises one or more metals, alloys, or a combination thereof.
A melting system comprising:
- a workpiece positioned in a workpiece holder;
- a heat source operable to produce a melt pool in the workpiece;
- a computer configured to control processing of the workpiece via melting with the heat source;
- and
- a sensing system comprising one or more of a plurality of ultrasound transducers, a pulse and receiver, an oscilloscope, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.