Abstract: A process for melting at least one mineral material in powder form includes using at least one laser beam (12) for supplying the energy necessary to the melting, and gradually supplying mineral powder to a zone (10) that is impacted by the laser beam(s) so as to obtain the largest surface possible for interaction between the material and the laser beam(s).

Abstract: A process for melting at least one mineral material in powder form includes using at least one laser beam (12) for supplying the energy necessary to the melting, and gradually supplying mineral powder to a zone (10) that is impacted by the laser beam(s) so as to obtain the largest surface possible for interaction between the material and the laser beam(s).

Abstract: An article comprising a metal support with two opposing faces at least one of which is covered by a discontinuous ceramic coating. Said coating has a softening point above the melting point of the support and has at least one absorbing element for the laser radiation at a wavelength of the order of 1 ?m, being at least 1% of the weight of said coating. The invention further relates to a method for producing said article.

Abstract: A device for applying a thin layer of a powder on a support means (14) includes a device (12) for storing the powder, a screed (30) that includes a shoe (36) with a working surface, as well as a device (28) for guiding in translation in a direction of movement F. The shoe (36) is rotatable and includes a device (32, 34) for inclining the to take at least two positions, the first in which the working surface is parallel to the support (14) for the layers to take up a predetermined volume of powder and a second in which this working surface is inclined at an angle ? relative to the support.

Abstract: A succession of superposed digitized sections of an object are produced from a three-dimensional representation of the object. A powder or a mixture of powders is spread in the form of a fine layer and heated to a temperature close to solid phase sintering temperature of the powder or the mixture of powders. The layer is brought to the sintering temperature by scanning with a laser beam the layer such that a selected part of the powder, corresponding to one of the digitized sections of the object to be produced, is sintered in solid phase by the additional energy supplied by the laser. Additional layers of the powder or the mixture of powders are spread, heated and scanned with the laser beam until all the digitized superposed sections of the object to be produced are obtained.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a device for applying a thin layer of a powder on support means (14) comprising means (12) for storing the powder, screeding means (16) with a screed (30) comprising a shoe (36) with a working surface as well as means (28) for guiding in translation in a direction of movement F, characterized in that the shoe (36) is rotatable and comprises means (32, 34) for inclining it to take at least two positions, the first in which the working surface is parallel to the support means (14) for the layers to take up a predetermined volume of powder and a second in which this working surface is inclined at an angle &agr; relative to said support means.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for marking an object with mineral powders, characterised in that in consists in depositing on the substrate a coat consisting of mineral powders, producing a marking on the substrate coated surface using a laser beam, said laser beam providing the energy required for sintering the coat irradiated particles, and for generating a diffusion between the sintered particles and the substrate; and removing the non-irradiated coating part using cleaning means. The invention also concerns the associated device, characterised in that it comprises a table (32) whereon is arranged the substrate (10), a laser (16), depositing means (20). cleaning means (18), and control means (26) for controlling the laser beam shot (16).