Abstract: A workpiece support includes a workpiece support element and a suction device. A workpiece is mounted on a workpiece side of the workpiece support element during machining. Towards a remote lower side, the workpiece support element is permeable to a waste air flow loaded with machining-related emissions. The suction device includes a vacuum generator and a suction line. The vacuum generator is configured to generate the waste air flow flowing from the workpiece side to the lower side, to suck off the waste air flow into the suction line in a flow direction and to subsequently discharge the waste air flow via the suction line. The suction line has a suction opening having a flow cross section which can be passed by the waste air flow in the flow direction. An opening width of the flow cross section and/or a position of the suction opening can be variably adjusted.

Abstract: Described are devices and methods for unpacking a three-dimensional object, manufactured in a swap container by layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a powdery structural material, from the structural material that surrounds the object and has remained unsolidified, comprising a turning device that rotates the swap container from an upright position into an unloading position for discharging the unsolidified structural material, wherein the turning device comprises a drive unit by which the three-dimensional object is displaceable into a removal position relative to the swap container), following the unpacking of the unsolidified structural material.

Abstract: Methods for determining the quality of a weld of a workpiece welded by laser-beam welding, wherein at least a partial region of a molten pool and/or of a surrounding area of the molten pool is observed by means of a measuring system during the laser-beam welding and the quality of the weld of the welded workpiece is determined on the basis of the observation result. At least one characteristic value that correlates with molten pool oscillation of the molten pool is observed during the laser-beam welding and a measure of an amplitude of the molten pool oscillation and/or a measure of a frequency of the molten pool oscillation is determined from the observed time curve of the characteristic value. A probability and/or a frequency for the occurrence of hot cracks at the weld of the workpiece is inferred.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a laser beam with different beam profile characteristics are provided. In one aspect, a method includes coupling an input laser beam into one fiber end of a multi-clad fiber, in particular a double-clad fiber and emitting an output laser beam from the other fiber end of the multi-clad fiber. To generate different beam profile characteristics of the output laser beam, the input laser beam is electively coupled either at least into the inner fiber core of the multi-clad fiber or at least into at least one outer ring core of the multi-clad fiber, or a first sub-beam of the input laser beam is coupled into at least into the inner fiber core of the multi-clad fiber and a second, different sub-beam of the input laser beam is coupled at least into the at least one outer ring core of the multi-clad fiber.

Abstract: A production device comprises a main housing, an optical system that provides a beam for the irradiation of powder in a building platform area of a working surface for producing a component layer by layer, and a shielding gas system for providing a two-dimensional stream of shielding gas. The shielding gas system has at least one outlet opening structure and a suction-removal opening structure on opposite sides of the main housing, and the two-dimensional stream of shielding gas flows over the working surface between the opposite sides. The shielding gas system also has at least one secondary outlet opening for the flowing in of gas in the direction of the two-dimensional stream of shielding gas, which is designed for the forming of at least one secondary stream of shielding gas, which plays a part in determining the flow profile of the two-dimensional stream of shielding gas.

Abstract: In a method for determining a deviation of a spatial orientation of a beam axis (S) of a beam processing machine from a spatial nominal orientation (S0) of the beam axis (S), contour sections (KA1, KB2) are cut with a processing beam into a test workpiece from two sides of the workpiece. The contour sections (KA1, KB2) extend parallel to a nominal orientation of a rotation axis (B, C), where the rotation axis is to be calibrated. The contour sections (KA1, KA2) are probed from one side of the test workpiece by a measuring device for determining the spatial position of the contour sections (KA1, KB1). Deviation of the spatial orientation of the beam axis (S) of the beam processing machine from the spatial nominal orientation (S0) is determined based on the spatial positions of the contour sections (KA1, KB1).

Abstract: A diffractive optical beam shaping element for imposing a phase distribution on a laser beam that is intended for laser processing of a material includes a phase mask that is shaped as an area and is configured for imposing a plurality of beam shaping phase distributions on the laser beam incident on to the phase mask. A virtual optical image is attributed to at least one of the plurality of beam shaping phase distributions, wherein the virtual image can be imaged into an elongated focus zone for creating a modification in the material to be processed. Multiple such elongated focus zones can spatially add up and interfere with each other, to modify an intensity distribution in the material and, for example, generate an asymmetric modification zone.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media for producing at least one portion of a layer of a three-dimensional component by irradiating at least one powder layer by at least one high-energy beam, e.g., a laser beam are disclosed. The methods include irradiating the powder layer by the at least one high-energy beam in a processing field, wherein the at least one high-energy beam is moved in a continuous oscillating movement over the powder layer in a first direction to produce a line-shaped irradiation region in which the powder layer is melted, and wherein the line-shaped irradiation region is moved over the powder layer in a second direction that differs from the first to produce the portion of the layer of the three-dimensional component.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a methods and devices for producing three-dimensional objects by a beam acting on and selectively solidifying a construction material applied layer by layer. The devices include at least one process chamber, which has a building platform on which the three-dimensional object is created, a radiation source for producing the beam, at least one beam guiding element, and a process assisting device movable above the building platform and having a first and second module with a beam guiding portion arranged between for the beam that is directed onto the building platform. Each module has at least one application device for discharging construction material and a monitoring device with at least one sensor element for sensing the applied and solidified layer of construction material.

Abstract: This disclosure provides collector elements for gas circuits of additive manufacturing systems for making 3D components from a powder. The collector elements include an intake duct portion having a strip-shaped inflow duct with an intake opening and a main body portion that includes a cylindrical cavity extending along the intake duct portion, the cavity being fluidly connected to the inflow duct with a step in the rounded wall that causes an increase in diameter from a first diameter of the cavity to a second, larger diameter. The collector element also includes a first gas discharging portion with a tube portion and a diameter adjusting portion that fluidly connects a first end of the cavity to the inner volume of the tube portion via a duct.

Abstract: A method for producing a control signal for positioning a holder of a solid freeform fabrication device that is height-adjustable relative to a working surface, comprising arranging a structural platform on the holder; capturing a plurality of images of the working surface in the region of the holder, an image-specific height of the holder being adjusted before the detection of one of the plurality of images, and depending on the change of direction in the height, a powder layer is applied or removed; determining a powder boundary line between a powder-free region and a powder-covered region of the structural platform for at least two of the plurality of images, captured for differently adjusted image-specific heights of the holder, and producing a control signal for positioning the holder on the basis of the at least two powder boundary lines. The holder can be aligned according to the control signal.

Abstract: A laser beam directed is moved relative to a workpiece to weld along a weld seam and form a weld pool in the area surrounding the laser beam. The weld pool has a characteristic oscillation frequency fco, and a laser power is modulated with a modulation frequency f and a modulation amplitude ?=1?Pmin/Pmax, where Pmin is minimal and Pmax is maximal laser power during a modulation period. For a normalized characteristic oscillation frequency ?co and a normalized modulation frequency ?, ??2.2*?co, with ?=f·df/?, where ? is the feed rate of the laser beam, and df is diameter of a beam focal spot. Also, ?co=f,cotest·df,cotest/vcotest, where fcotest is a measured characteristic oscillation frequency, df,cotest the diameter of the beam focal spot, and vcotest is the feed rate of laser beam, all during a test measurement without modulation of the laser power.

Abstract: An irradiating device for irradiating a machining field with a machining beam, in particular with a laser beam, for carrying out a welding process, is provided. The irradiating device includes a beam scanner for aligning the machining beam to a machining position in the machining field. The irradiating device has an imaging device for imaging a part-region of the machining field on a pyrometer which has at least two pyrometer segments. The imaging device images thermal radiation which emanates from the machining position in the machining field on a first pyrometer segment, and images thermal radiation which emanates from a position in the machining field being situated ahead of or behind the machining position along an advancing direction of the machining beam in the machining field on at least one second pyrometer segment. A machine tool having such an irradiating device is also provided.

Abstract: A plate-like workpiece having a transparent, glass, glass-like, ceramic and/or crystalline layer, such as for use in an electronic display screen, is processed into separate segments by first incompletely severing the workpiece along outer contours of bounded segments, by forming holes through the layer with a laser beam, leaving the segments interconnected at narrow connections, and then separating the segments by severing the web-like connections.

Abstract: For material processing of a material, which is in particular for a laser beam to a large extent transparent, asymmetric shaped modifications are created transverse to the propagation direction of the laser beam. Thereby, the laser beam is shaped for forming an elongated focus zone in the material, wherein the focus zone is such that it includes at least one intensity maximum, which is transverse flattened in a flattening direction, or a transverse and/or axial sequence of asymmetric intensity maxima, which are flattened in a sequence direction. After positioning the focus zone in the material, a modification is created and the material and the focus zone are moved relative to each other in the or across to the flattening direction or in the or across to the sequence direction for forming a crack along an induced preferred direction.

Abstract: In an example method, a laser processing head is moved from an entrance region over a workpiece to a starting position above the workpiece. During this time, a distance control system is used to control the distance between the laser processing head and the workpiece based on measurements obtained from one or more distance sensors. Further, the laser processing head is moved from the starting position to a position beyond an edge of the workpiece. During this time, the distance control system is disengaged. When the laser processing head reaches the position beyond an edge of the workpiece, laser emission is initiated, and the laser processing head is moved back towards the starting position. Upon reaching the starting position, the distance control system is reengaged. The laser processing head is subsequently moved along a pre-determined path to cut the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods, machines, and computer-readable mediums for determining distance correction values of a desired distance between a laser processing nozzle on a laser processing head and a workpiece during laser processing of the workpiece are provided. In some implementations, the workpiece is scanned along a desired path of a surface of the workpiece separately by the laser processing nozzle and a measurement head arranged in place of the laser processing nozzle on the laser processing head, with a capacitively measured distance identical to the desired distance. The measurement head has a lower lateral sensitivity of a capacitance measurement than the laser processing nozzle. Respective scanned movement paths of the laser processing nozzle and the measurement head are determined. The distance correction values for the desired distance of the laser processing nozzle are then determined from the scanned movement paths determined with the laser processing nozzle and the measurement head.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for determining a beam profile of a laser beam, which is positioned by a scanner device in a processing field. The method includes: arranging at least one retroreflector in the processing field for irradiating powder layers of the scanner device; detecting laser radiation reflected back into the scanner device while the laser beam is scanned over the retroreflector; and determining the beam profile of the laser beam by using the laser radiation detected during the scanning travel over the retroreflector.

Abstract: A laser machining head includes a focusing optical unit for focusing a laser beam in a direction of a machining zone of a workpiece and includes a cross-jet nozzle for producing a cross flow that passes through the focused laser beam transversely (e.g., at a right angle to) a beam axis of the focused laser beam. The distance of the cross-jet nozzle from the workpiece is less than 20 mm (e.g., between 8 mm and 12 mm). A nozzle body having a bottom opening that faces downward toward the workpiece is provided laterally adjacent to the focused laser beam. A protective gas flows out of the bottom opening, which is arranged below the cross-jet nozzle in order to entrain the protective gas flowing between the nozzle body and the workpiece due to the cross flow of the cross-jet nozzle so that the protective gas flows over the machining zone.

Abstract: A diffractive optical beam shaping element for imposing a phase distribution on a laser beam that is intended for laser processing of a material includes a phase mask that is shaped as an area and is configured for imposing a plurality of beam shaping phase distributions on the laser beam incident on to the phase mask. A virtual optical image is attributed to at least one of the plurality of beam shaping phase distributions, wherein the virtual image can be imaged into an elongated focus zone for creating a modification in the material to be processed. Multiple such elongated focus zones can spatially add up and interfere with each other, to modify an intensity distribution in the material and, for example, generate an asymmetric modification zone.