Title:
DIODE LASER FIBER ARRAY FOR POWDER BED FABRICATION OR REPAIR
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/134075
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of a diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build; and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build. An apparatus for forming a build in a powder bed includes a diode laser fiber array including a plurality of diode lasers and a plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the plurality of diode lasers, each optical fiber configured to receive a laser beam from a respective diode laser and configured to emitting the laser beam; a support configured to support a powder bed or a component configured to support the powder bed at a distance from ends of the optical fibers; and a controller configured to control the diode laser fiber array to emit a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build and simultaneously melt the powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build.
Inventors:
JONES MARSHALL GORDON (US)
CARTER WILLIAM THOMAS (US)
SEARS JAMES WILLIAM (US)
CARTER WILLIAM THOMAS (US)
SEARS JAMES WILLIAM (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2014/068979
Publication Date:
January 28, 2016
Filing Date:
December 08, 2014
Export Citation:
Assignee:
GEN ELECTRIC (US)
International Classes:
B22F3/105; B22F5/00; B23K26/34; B28B1/00; B29C67/00; B29C73/00; B29C73/34; G02B6/42; H01S5/02; H01S5/022; H01S5/14
Foreign References:
| US20030214571A1 | 2003-11-20 | |||
| US20020149137A1 | 2002-10-17 | |||
| EP0958912A1 | 1999-11-24 | |||
| DE19953000A1 | 2001-05-17 | |||
| CN1593817A | 2005-03-16 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
OVERBECK, Brian, P. et al. (Global Patent Operation3135 Easton Turnpik, Fairfield CT, US)
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