Patents by Inventor Frank Herzog

Frank Herzog has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240140027
    Abstract: The invention relates to 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, at least for certain portions, the quality, in particular of the surface, of a buildin
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Fabian Zeulner
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20230390997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional component by an electron-beam, laser-sintering or laser-melting process, in which the component is created by successively solidifying predetermined portions of individual layers of building material that can be solidified by being exposed to the effect of an electron-beam or laser-beam source (2) by melting on the building material, wherein thermographic data records are recorded during the production of the layers, respectively characterizing a temperature profile of at least certain portions of the respective layer, and the irradiation of the layers takes place by means of an electron beam or laser beam (3), which is controlled on the basis of the recorded thermographic data records in such a way that a largely homogeneous temperature profile is produced, wherein, to irradiate an upper layer, a focal point (4) of the electron beam or laser beam (3) is guided along a scanning path (17), which is chosen on the basis of the data record charac
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11760006
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional component by an electron-beam, laser-sintering or laser-melting process, in which the component is created by successively solidifying predetermined portions of individual layers of building material that can be solidified by being exposed to the effect of an electron-beam or laser-beam source (2) by melting on the building material, wherein thermographic data records are recorded during the production of the layers, respectively characterizing a temperature profile of at least certain portions of the respective layer, and the irradiation of the layers takes place by means of an electron beam or laser beam (3), which is controlled on the basis of the recorded thermographic data records in such a way that a largely homogeneous temperature profile is produced, wherein, to irradiate an upper layer, a focal point (4) of the electron beam or laser beam (3) is guided along a scanning path (17), which is chosen on the basis of the data record charac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11701740
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional component by means of a laser melting process, in which the component is produced by consecutively solidifying individual layers made of building material by melting the building material, wherein said building material can be solidified by the action of radiation, wherein the melting area produced by a punctiform and/or linear energy input is detected by a sensor device and sensor values are derived therefrom in order to evaluate the component quality. The sensor values detected in order to evaluate the component quality are stored together with the coordinate values that locate the sensor values in the component and are displayed by means of a visualization unit in two- and/or multi-dimensional representation with respect to the detection location of the sensor values in the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: CONCEPT LASER GMBH, KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Sebastian Berumen, Jean Pierre Kruth, Tom Craeghs
  • Publication number: 20230150191
    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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11571856
    Abstract: A device for producing three-dimensional objects by successively solidifying layers of a construction material that can be solidified using radiation on the positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, with a housing comprising a process chamber, a construction container situated therein, an irradiation device for irradiating layers of the construction material on the positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, an application device for applying the layers of the construction material onto a carrying device within the construction container or a previously formed layer, a metering device for delivering the construction material, wherein the application device comprises a coating element which distributes the construction material delivered by the metering device as a thin layer in an application area along a linear application movement, wherein at the end of a coating process for a layer when returning the coating element 11 to a coating starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Fabian Zeulner, Markus Lippert, Jens Stammberger, Christian Diller
  • Patent number: 11554542
    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: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11472114
    Abstract: Method for controlling operating of at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects is provided by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, embodiments including exemplary steps of: supplying authorization data (AD) which contains at least one authorization parameter that authorizes the operation of at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) or at least one functional unit (2-7) of the at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) from an external data supply source (10), transmitting the authorization data (AD) from the external data supply source (10) to a control unit (8) of the at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1), and controlling operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus (1) or the at least one functional unit (2-7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Markus Lippert, Ralf Hetzel
  • Patent number: 11472103
    Abstract: An apparatus for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by successive layer-by-layer selective illumination and thus selective solidification of construction material layers formed in a construction plane, consisting of a solidifiable construction material by at least one energy beam, comprising a housing structure, and a combined coating and illumination assembly firmly arranged or formed on the housing structure of the apparatus, comprising a coating device provided for applying the construction material into the construction plane and for forming construction material layers to be solidified in the construction plane, and an illumination device provided for the selective illumination of respective construction material layers formed in the construction plane by the coating device, and a carrying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 11458543
    Abstract: A powder module for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising a powder chamber limiting a powder room that can be filled with powdered construction material and a carrying device arranged in the powder room and limiting the powder room at the bottom, wherein between at least one powder chamber wall limiting the powder room and the carrying device a gap extending at least partially along the powder chamber wall limiting the powder room is formed, through which powdered construction material from the powder room can enter a powder module section lying below the carrying device, wherein the gap opens out into a receiving section of a receiving element arranged or formed on the powder chamber, wherein the receiving section is formed as or comprises an especially ring-shaped circumferential flow channel structure provided for receiving construction material from the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Frank Schödel, Florian Bechmann
  • Patent number: 11420261
    Abstract: A system (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (2) by way of the solidification above one another of layers of a building material which can be solidified by means of radiation at the points which correspond to the respective cross section of the object, wherein the system (1) comprises at least one process station (4) which is arranged in a first housing (3) for carrying out the layer-by-layer generative building process in a building container (5), and a handling station (7) in at least one second housing (6) for unpacking produced objects (2) from the building container (5) which can be moved between the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7), wherein the at least one process station (4) and the at least one handling station (7) are arranged in separate housing units (3, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Fabian Zeulner, Jens Stammberger, Christian Diller, Ralf Hetzel
  • Patent number: 11370028
    Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional components by successively solidifying layers of a powder construction material solidified by means of electromagnetic radiation, in particular bundled radiation such as laser radiation or electron radiation, at the locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the component, in particular SLM or SLS. A device comprising a support device, the height of which can be adjusted within a construction chamber, is provided for supporting the component including a coating device for applying layers of the construction material onto the support device or onto a previously formed layer and comprising an irradiating device for irradiating layers of the construction material in some regions to solidify layers. A surface section to be coated is scanned with respect to the evenness of the section prior to the application of a new layer. In the event of an unevenness exceeding a known tolerance range, the unevenness is removed or leveled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Publication number: 20220184705
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Sebastian Berumen, Jean Pierre Kruth, Tom Craeghs
  • Publication number: 20220152738
    Abstract: A process monitoring system for an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a scanner, a sensor device, and an optical focus-tracking device. The scanner includes an optical adjustment device that directs a melting beam emitted by a laser melting device onto a construction plane to generate a melting section of the construction plane. The sensor device may detect reflected radiation from the melting section and generate sensor data indicative of a size, shape, and/or temperature corresponding to the melting section. The optical focus-tracking device includes a focusing lens located between the scanner and the sensor device. The focusing lens may be actuatable by electronic machine data derived from the sensor data to impart a first focus adjustment with respect to the reflected radiation detected by the sensor followed by a second focus adjustment with respect to the melting beam directed by the optical adjustment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Tobias Bokkes, Fabian Zeulner