Systems and methods for monitoring a melt pool using a dedicated scanning device

• US 9,925,715 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cheverton, Mark Allen, Deaton, Jr., John Broddus
• Primary Examiner(s): Schiffman, Benjamin A
• Application Number:
  US14/319,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/36 of energy beam parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/366 Scanning parameters, e.g. hatch distance or scanning strategy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/41 characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/44 characterised by the configuration of the radiation means
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/45 Two or more
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/49 Scanners
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/90 Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/032 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/034 Observing the temperature of the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/34 Laser welding for purposes other than joining
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/342 Build-up welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/268 using laser beams; using electron beams [EB]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/393 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/772 Articles characterised by their shape and not otherwise provided for closed loop B29L2031/709; ring-like B29L2031/7096; corrugated B29L2016/00, flat B29L2007/00; hollow B29L2022/00; screw-threaded B29L2001/00; toothed B29L2031/775; corrugated tubes B29L2023/18
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a first scanning device, and an optical system. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam, and the first scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across a powder bed. The laser beam generates a melt pool in the powder bed. The optical system includes an optical detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool, and a second scanning device configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool to the optical detector.

Claims

1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:

a laser device configured to generate a laser beam;

a first scanning device configured to selectively direct the laser beam across a powder bed, wherein the laser beam generates a melt pool in the powder bed; and

an optical system comprising;

an optical detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool; and

a second scanning device configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool to said optical detector, wherein said second scanning device comprises at least one mirror and at least one actuator operatively coupled to said at least one mirror and said at least one mirror is a first mirror, and said first scanning device comprise a second mirror, wherein said first mirror comprises a first reflective coating having a first reflectance spectrum, and said second mirror comprises a second reflective coating having a second reflectance spectrum different from the first reflectance spectrum.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said optical system is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from an observation zone, said second scanning device configured to scan the observation zone across the powder bed to track the melt pool.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a processor coupled to said second scanning device, said processor configured to control said second scanning device synchronously with said first scanning device.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said optical detector comprises at least one of a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, an infrared camera, a CCD camera, a pyrometer, and a CMOS detector.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said laser device is configured to generate a laser beam having a power of at least approximately 400 watts.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the laser beam travels along an optical path from said laser device to the powder bed, wherein the optical path is free of dichroic beam splitters.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the additive manufacturing system is a direct metal laser melting system.

8. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical system further comprises:

an optical filter that blocks wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation within 50 nm of the laser beam generated by the laser device; and

an objective lens that focuses the electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool on the optical detector, wherein the optical detector is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to the focused electromagnetic radiation, and the additive manufacturing system further comprises;

a controller that includes a calibration model that includes desired melt pool sizes and temperatures corresponding to powers of the laser device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the optical signal from the optical detector and adjust at least one of a power of the laser device, a scan speed of the first scanning device, a position and an orientation of the first scanning device, a scan speed of the second scanning device, and a position and an orientation of the second scanning device to correct any discrepancy between a size and/or temperature of the melt pool and a desired melt pool size and/or temperature.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

a beam collimator between the laser device and the first scanning device that collimates the laser beam.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

an F-theta lens between the first scanning device and the powder bed.

11. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the optical system further comprises:

a pin hole aperture device that reduces out-of-focus electromagnetic radiation reaching the optical detector.

12. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the first scanning device comprises a first motor to rotate the second mirror and the at least one actuator comprises at least one second motor to rotate the at least one mirror, and the controller is configured to control the first motor and the at least one second motor.

13. An additive manufacturing system comprising:

a laser device configured to generate a laser beam;

a first scanning device configured to selectively direct the laser beam across a powder bed, wherein the laser beam generates a melt pool in the powder bed; and

an optical system comprising;

an optical detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool; and

a second scanning device configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool to said optical detector, wherein said second scanning device comprises at least one mirror and at least one actuator operatively coupled to said at least one mirror, wherein said at least one mirror is a first mirror, and said first scanning device comprises a second mirror, wherein said first mirror comprises a first reflective coating having a first reflectance spectrum, and said second mirror comprises a second reflective coating having a second reflectance spectrum different from the first reflectance spectrum, wherein the first reflective spectrum corresponds to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation detectable by said optical detector, and the second reflective spectrum corresponds to a wavelength of the laser beam.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the optical system further comprises:

an optical filter that blocks wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation within 50 nm of the laser beam generated by the laser device; and

an objective lens that focuses the electromagnetic radiation generated by the melt pool on the optical detector, wherein the optical detector is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to the focused electromagnetic radiation, and the additive manufacturing system further comprises;

a controller that includes a calibration model that includes desired melt pool sizes and temperatures corresponding to powers of the laser device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the optical signal from the optical detector and adjust at least one of a power of the laser device, a scan speed of the first scanning device, a position and an orientation of the first scanning device, a scan speed of the second scanning device, and a position and an orientation of the second scanning device to correct any discrepancy between a size and/or temperature of the melt pool and a desired melt pool size and/or temperature.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

a beam collimator between the laser device and the first scanning device that collimates the laser beam.

16. The system in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

an F-theta lens between the first scanning device and the powder bed.

17. The system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the optical system further comprises:

a pin hole aperture device that reduces out-of-focus electromagnetic radiation reaching the optical detector.

18. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the first scanning device comprises a first motor to rotate the second mirror and the at least one actuator comprises at least one second motor to rotate the at least one mirror, and the controller is configured to control the first motor and the at least one second motor.