Patents Assigned to Concept Laser GmbH
  • Patent number: 11964430
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, and/or a method of controlling one or more irradiation parameters of the energy beam system, may include determining an irradiation setting using an irradiation control model and outputting an irradiation control command to an energy beam system based at least in part on the irradiation setting. The irradiation control model may be configured to determine the irradiation setting based at least in part on a power density factor and/or an irradiation vector factor. The irradiation control command may be configured to change one or more irradiation parameters for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object. An additive manufacturing system may include an energy beam system and a control system that includes an irradiation controller. The irradiation controller may include a control module configured to perform such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Concept Laser GmbH, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Juergen Werner, Benjamin Guenther, Lisa Pastuschka, Manuel Acosta
  • Patent number: 11945043
    Abstract: An optical system may include a first optical assembly and a first scan field expansion assembly. The first optical assembly may include or may be configured as a first flat-field lens. The first flat-field lens may have a first nominal scan field with a first flat focal plane. The first scan field expansion assembly may include one or more first field-expanding optical elements configured to provide a first expanded scan field coinciding with the first flat focal plane. The first expanded scan field may have a cross-sectional width and/or area that exceeds a corresponding cross-sectional width and/or area of the first nominal scan field. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may include directing a first energy beam through the first optical assembly, and directing the first energy beam through the first scan field expansion assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Hunze
  • Patent number: 11945159
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may include allocating irradiation of respective ones of a plurality of sequential layers of construction material between a first region and a second region based at least in part on a first irradiation time and/or a second irradiation time. Irradiation of the first region is allocated to a first scanner and the first irradiation time is indicative of a time required for the first scanner to irradiate the first region with respect to at least one of the plurality of sequential layers of construction material. Irradiation of the second region is allocated to a second scanner and the second irradiation time is indicative of a time required for the second scanner to irradiate the second region with respect to at least one of the plurality of sequential layers of construction material. The first irradiation time and the second irradiation time may be at least approximately the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Markus Lippert, Johanna Hoch, Alexey Tarasov, Fabian Zeulner
  • Patent number: 11938539
    Abstract: A build unit for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an energy beam system having one or more irradiation devices respectively configured to direct one or more energy beams onto a region of a powder bed, and an inertization system including an irradiation chamber defining an irradiation plenum, one or more supply manifolds, and a return manifold. The one or more supply manifolds may include a downflow manifold configured to provide a downward flow of a process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber, and/or a crossflow manifold configured to provide a lateral flow of the process gas through at least a portion of the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber. The return manifold may evacuate or otherwise remove process gas from the irradiation plenum defined by the irradiation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Edward Halla, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Shashwat Swami Jaiswal, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby, Peter Pontiller-Schymura
  • Patent number: 11919243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional component 14 by means of an additive construction method in which the component 14 is constructed by solidifying construction material 9 that can be solidified using radiation 18, especially a selective laser melting method or a selective laser sintering method, in which the component 14 is produced by successively solidifying construction material 9 that can be solidified using the impact of radiation 18 by melting or sintering, comprising the following features: providing an additive construction apparatus 1, especially an SLM apparatus or an SLS apparatus, comprising a process chamber 3, a construction platform 7 for carrying the construction material 9, and a radiation source arranged above the construction platform 7 for generating a point-type or linear energy input for creating a melting or sintering section in the construction material 9, providing a sensor apparatus 31 for selective detection of created melting or sintering secti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11911959
    Abstract: A device (1) for the additive production of three-dimensional objects (2) by successive, layered, selective irradiation and accompanying successive, layered, selective solidification of construction material layers of a construction material (3) that can be solidified by means of an energy beam, comprising: a plurality of irradiation devices (6 and 7), which are designed to generate an energy beam, a control device (16), which is designed to generate control information controlling the operation of the irradiation devices (6 and 7) and to control the operation of the irradiation devices (6 and 7) on the basis of generated control information, wherein the control device (16) is designed to generate first control information in order to control the operation of a first irradiation device, on the basis of which the first irradiation device generates a first energy beam (4a) for the successive, layered, selective solidification of a construction material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Pontiller-Schymura, Felix Trutschel, Tim Döhler
  • Patent number: 11911957
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for the additive manufacturing of at least one three-dimensional object (2) by selectively compacting layer by layer at least one compactible building material (3) by means of at least one energy beam (5) generated by at least one radiation generating device (4), comprising at least one radiation generating device (4) for generating at least one energy beam (5) for compacting at least one compactible building material (3), at least one coating device (8) for carrying out at least one coating operation to apply a defined building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) to a building plane (10) or to a building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) that has previously been applied in the course of carrying out a previous coating operation, and also at least one recording device (11) for recording layer information describing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Fabian Zeulner
  • Patent number: 11911960
    Abstract: A device (1) for the generative production of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer in a successive manner using at least one laser beam (5), comprising at least one device (4) for generating at least one laser beam (5) in order to selectively solidify individual construction material layers made of solidifiable construction material (3) layer by layer. The device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) that is arranged or can be arranged directly over the construction plane (9) on which solidified construction material layers or construction material layers to be solidified are selectively formed and is designed to generate a laser beam (5) directed directly onto the construction plane, and/or the device (4) comprises at least one laser diode element (10) and at least one optical element (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11904545
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of at least one energy beam (4), which apparatus (1) comprises an irradiation device (5) with at least one beam guiding element (7) on which the energy beam (4) is partially reflected, wherein a first beam part (10) extends between the beam guiding element (7) and a build plane (18) of the apparatus (1) and a second beam part (11) is transmitted through or scattered at the beam guiding element (7), wherein a determination device (12) is provided that is adapted to determine at least one parameter of the second beam part (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Bokkes, Philipp Schumann, Stephan Hunze, Tim Klaußner, Fabian Zeulner, Marie-Christin Ebert
  • Patent number: 11904413
    Abstract: Sensor values captured by a sensor device are determined, one or more regions of a three-dimensional component having a deviation from an intended value are determined based at least in part on build coordinates for additively manufacturing the three-dimensional component corresponding to the sensor values, and a quality of the three-dimensional component is evaluated based at least in part on the one or more regions of the three-dimensional component having a deviation from the intended value. The sensor values correspond to an electromagnetic spectrum emitted by a melt pool formed by exposing a powder bed to a beam of radiation emitted from a laser apparatus, with the beam of radiation generating the melt pool in a melt region of the powder bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Concept Laser GmbH, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Sebastian Berumen, Jean Pierre Kruth, Tom Craeghs
  • Patent number: 11884006
    Abstract: An irradiation assembly for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include an irradiation device and a magnetic mounting device configured to displaceably support the irradiation device. The irradiation device may include one or more illumination elements respectively configured to emit an energy beam. The magnetic mounting device may include a magnetic slider element coupled to the irradiation device and a magnetic stator element couplable to a housing structure of an additive manufacturing machine. The magnetic stator element may include a displacement track configured to guide the magnetic slider element along a movement path above at least a portion of a construction plane of the additive manufacturing machine while the one or more illumination elements respectively emit the energy beam to selectively irradiate build material at specified regions of the construction plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Fabian Zeulner
  • Patent number: 11878463
    Abstract: Build material handling unit (2) for a powder module (3) for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit (2) is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module (3), wherein the build material handling unit (2) is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material (4) arranged inside a powder chamber (5) of the powder module (3) by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Dominik Eideloth
  • Patent number: 11878365
    Abstract: Methods of determining at least one parameter of an irradiation device of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include generating an energy beam and guiding the energy beam across a structured test surface, generating a signal by detecting radiation that is emitted from the test surface, and determining the at least one parameter based on a frequency spectrum of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Dicken, Ann-Kathrin Kleinschmidt, Tim Klaussner, Bertram Gaerber
  • Patent number: 11874535
    Abstract: An irradiation device for an additively manufacturing apparatus may include a working beam generation device configured to provide a working beam, a modulation beam generation device configured to provide a modulation beam, and a solid-state optical modulator that includes a crystalline material that exhibits a change in refractive index in response to photoexcitation of free electrons within the crystalline material. The irradiation device may include a power source coupled to the solid-state optical modulator and configured to introduce free electrons into the crystalline material. The modulation beam may cause photoexcitation of the free electrons within the crystalline material. The photoexcitation of the free electrons within the crystalline material may cause the crystalline material to exhibit a change in refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Maik Zimmermann, Florian Bechmann
  • Patent number: 11872627
    Abstract: A fluid flow apparatus configured to provide a flow of fluid with particular flow profiles to a process chamber of an additive manufacturing apparatus is provided. The fluid flow apparatus includes a plurality of openings forming a first flow region, a second flow region, a third flow region, and a fourth flow region in adjacent arrangement along an axis in the process chamber between the build platform and the laser window. A controller is configured to execute instructions that perform operations that include flowing, via the second flow region, the flow of fluid along a second distance along the axis at a second velocity range between approximately 1.0 meters per second (m/s) and 6.0 m/s, and flowing, via the fourth flow region, another flow of fluid along a fourth distance along the axis at a fourth velocity range between approximately 0.1 m/s and 4.5 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: GE Additive Germany GmbH, Concept laser GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Roidl, Thomas Fauner, Peter Pontiller-Schymura
  • Patent number: 11865770
    Abstract: Method for calibrating an irradiation device (2) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects which irradiation device (2) comprises at least two irradiation units (3, 4), comprising: guiding one of the at least two energy beams (6, 10) via the corresponding irradiation unit (3, 4) to a determination region (15), preferably a part of a build plane (8), for generating a calibration pattern (18, 19); imaging at least one part of the determination region (15) to an on-axis determination unit (12, 14) of the at least one other irradiation unit (3, 4); determining a position of the calibration pattern (18, 19) in the determination region (15) on basis of the image of the at least one part of the determination region (15); generating calibration information relating to a calibration status of at least one part of the irradiation device (2) based on the position of the calibration pattern (18, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Tim Klaußner, Christian Dicken, Bertram Gärber
  • Patent number: 11858217
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object may include defining an interlace path for a plurality of energy beams from an energy beam system based at least in part on a route-finding algorithm. The interlace path may delineate a first contour zone of a build plane assigned to a first one of the plurality of energy beams from a second contour zone of the build plane assigned to a second one of the plurality of energy beams. An exemplary method may additionally or alternatively include outputting a control command based at least in part on the interlace path. The control command may be configured to cause the energy beam system to irradiate a layer of a powder bed with the plurality of energy beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Bokkes, Patrick Dueck, Kai Hertel, Peter Pontiller-Schymura, Christian Wacker
  • Patent number: 11850798
    Abstract: Determination device (2) for determining at least one parameter of an energy beam (4), in particular an energy beam (4) generated via an irradiation device of an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which determination device (2) comprises two determination units (5, 6) arrangeable or arranged in succession in a beam path (3) of the energy beam (4), characterized in that each determination unit (5, 6) builds or comprises at least one complementary pattern element (15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 27, 30), wherein at least two pattern elements (15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 27, 30) of the two determination units (5, 6) complement each other to a superordinate pattern (32, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Dicken, Thomas Schulz
  • Patent number: 11845218
    Abstract: Method for calibrating an irradiation device for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which irradiation device comprises a first and a second irradiation unit adapted to guide a first and a second energy beam, wherein at least two first and two second calibration patterns are generated, wherein the at least two first calibration patterns are generated in at least two different first positions via the first energy beam and the at least two second calibration patterns are generated in at least two different second positions via the second energy beam and position information are determined relating to the positions of the at least two first and second calibration patterns and calibration information are generated relating to a calibration status of the irradiation device based on the determined position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Moritz Beck, Christian Dicken
  • Patent number: 11833754
    Abstract: A system (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising one or more working stations (21), which are provided for performing at least one working process in the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, at least one freely positionable mobile storage unit (2) comprising a rack-like storage device (4) comprising at least one storage room (5) provided for storing at least one powder module (6), especially for the purpose of conveying the powder module (6) between different working stations (21) of the system (1), and at least one driverless, freely movable mobile conveying unit (3) comprising a receiving device (12) provided for receiving at least one mobile storage unit (2) for the purpose of conveying the storage unit (2) between different working stations (21) of the system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Bechmann, Ralf Hetzel, Jens Stammberger, Fabian Zeulner, Alexander Hofmann