Patents by Inventor Mark J. Cola
Mark J. Cola 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).
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Systems and methods for measuring radiated thermal energy during an additive manufacturing operation
Patent number: 11938560Abstract: This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: R. Bruce Madigan, Lars Jacquemetton, Glenn Wikle, Mark J. Cola, Vivek R. Dave, Darren Beckett, Alberto M. Castro -
Publication number: 20240092016Abstract: This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, R. Bruce Madigan, MArk J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch
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Patent number: 11931956Abstract: This invention teaches a multi-sensor quality inference system for additive manufacturing. This invention still further teaches a quality system that is capable of discerning and addressing three quality issues: i) process anomalies, or extreme unpredictable events uncorrelated to process inputs; ii) process variations, or difference between desired process parameters and actual operating conditions; and iii) material structure and properties, or the quality of the resultant material created by the Additive Manufacturing process. This invention further teaches experimental observations of the Additive Manufacturing process made only in a Lagrangian frame of reference. This invention even further teaches the use of the gathered sensor data to evaluate and control additive manufacturing operations in real time.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, David D. Clark, Matias Roybal, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro
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Publication number: 20240085336Abstract: This disclosure describes various system and methods for monitoring photons emitted by a heat source of an additive manufacturing device. Sensor data recorded while monitoring the photons can be used to predict metallurgical, mechanical and geometrical properties of a part produced during an additive manufacturing operation. In some embodiments, a test pattern can be used to calibrate an additive manufacturing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro, Glenn Wikle, Lars Jacquemetton, Peter Campbell
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Patent number: 11858207Abstract: This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, R. Bruce Madigan, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch
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Patent number: 11692876Abstract: An optical manufacturing process sensing and status indication system is taught that is able to utilize optical emissions from a manufacturing process to infer the state of the process. In one case, it is able to use these optical emissions to distinguish thermal phenomena on two timescales and to perform feature extraction and classification so that nominal process conditions may be uniquely distinguished from off-nominal process conditions at a given instant in time or over a sequential series of instants in time occurring over the duration of the manufacturing process. In other case, it is able to utilize these optical emissions to derive corresponding spectra and identify features within those spectra so that nominal process conditions may be uniquely distinguished from off-nominal process conditions at a given instant in time or over a sequential series of instants in time occurring over the duration of the manufacturing process.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, R. Bruce Madigan, Martin S. Piltch, Alberto Castro
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Publication number: 20230202100Abstract: This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, R. Bruce Madigan, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch
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Patent number: 11674904Abstract: This disclosure describes various system and methods for monitoring photons emitted by a heat source of an additive manufacturing device. Sensor data recorded while monitoring the photons can be used to predict metallurgical, mechanical and geometrical properties of a part produced during an additive manufacturing operation. In some embodiments, a test pattern can be used to calibrate an additive manufacturing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro, Glenn Wikle, Lars Jacquemetton, Peter Campbell
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Publication number: 20230127650Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: SIGMA ADDITIVE SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Lars Jacquemetton, Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, Glenn Wikle, R. Bruce Madigan
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Patent number: 11607875Abstract: This invention teaches a quality assurance system for additive manufacturing. This invention teaches a multi-sensor, real-time quality system including sensors, affiliated hardware, and data processing algorithms that are Lagrangian-Eulerian with respect to the reference frames of its associated input measurements. The quality system for Additive Manufacturing is capable of measuring true in-process state variables associated with an additive manufacturing process, i.e. those in-process variables that define a feasible process space within which the process is deemed nominal. The in-process state variables can also be correlated to the part structure or microstructure and can then be useful in identifying particular locations within the part likely to include defects.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Sigma Additive Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, R. Bruce Madigan, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch
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Publication number: 20230081180Abstract: This invention teaches a multi-sensor quality inference system for additive manufacturing. This invention still further teaches a quality system that is capable of discerning and addressing three quality issues: i) process anomalies, or extreme unpredictable events uncorrelated to process inputs; ii) process variations, or difference between desired process parameters and actual operating conditions; and iii) material structure and properties, or the quality of the resultant material created by the Additive Manufacturing process. This invention further teaches experimental observations of the Additive Manufacturing process made only in a Lagrangian frame of reference. This invention even further teaches the use of the gathered sensor data to evaluate and control additive manufacturing operations in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: Sigma Labs, Inc.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, David D. Clark, Matias Roybal, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING RADIATED THERMAL ENERGY DURING AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OPERATION
Publication number: 20220388249Abstract: This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: Sigma Labs, Inc.Inventors: R. Bruce Madigan, Lars Jacquemetton, Glenn Wikle, Mark J. Cola, Vivek R. Dave, Darren Beckett, Alberto M. Castro -
Patent number: 11517984Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: Lars Jacquemetton, Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, Glenn Wikle, R. Bruce Madigan
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Patent number: 11478854Abstract: This invention teaches a multi-sensor quality inference system for additive manufacturing. This invention still further teaches a quality system that is capable of discerning and addressing three quality issues: i) process anomalies, or extreme unpredictable events uncorrelated to process inputs; ii) process variations, or difference between desired process parameters and actual operating conditions; and iii) material structure and properties, or the quality of the resultant material created by the Additive Manufacturing process. This invention further teaches experimental observations of the Additive Manufacturing process made only in a Lagrangian frame of reference. This invention even further teaches the use of the gathered sensor data to evaluate and control additive manufacturing operations in real time.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, David D. Clark, Matias Roybal, Mark J. Cola, Martin S. Piltch, R. Bruce Madigan, Alberto Castro
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING RADIATED THERMAL ENERGY DURING AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OPERATION
Publication number: 20220324056Abstract: This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensing system that monitors two discrete wavelengths associated with a blackbody radiation curve of the layer of powder; determining temperature variations for an area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon a ratio of sensor readings taken at the two discrete wavelengths; determining that the temperature variations are outside a threshold range of values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the area of the build plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Sigma Labs, Inc.Inventors: Darren Beckett, Scott Betts, Martin Piltch, R. Bruce Madigan, Lars Jacquemetton, Glenn Wikle, Mark J. Cola, Vivek R. Dave, Alberto M. Castro, Roger Frye -
Patent number: 11458576Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: Lars Jacquemetton, Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola, Glenn Wikle, R. Bruce Madigan
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Systems and methods for measuring radiated thermal energy during an additive manufacturing operation
Patent number: 11390035Abstract: This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: R. Bruce Madigan, Lars Jacquemetton, Glenn Wikle, Mark J. Cola, Vivek R. Dave, Darren Beckett, Alberto M. Castro -
Publication number: 20220111444Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing system that includes a build plane having a first region and a second region. Multiple energy source can be positioned above the build plane and configured to direct energy into the first and second regions of the build plane. The system includes optical sensors configured to monitor an intensity of light emitted from the energy sources. A processor associated with the additive manufacturing system is configured to adjust the sensor outputs in response to the energy sources coming into close proximity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Sigma Labs, Inc.Inventors: R. Bruce Madigan, Mark J. Cola, Scott Betts, Darren Beckett, Alberto M. Castro, Lars Jacquemetton, Martin Piltch
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Patent number: 11267047Abstract: Various ways in which material property variations of raw materials used in additive manufacturing can be identified and accounted for are described. In some embodiments, the raw material can take the form of powdered metal. The powdered metal can have any number of variations including the following: particle size variation, contamination, particle composition and particle shape. Prior to utilizing the powders in an additive manufacturing operation, the powders can be inspected for variations. Variations and inconsistencies in the powder can also be identified by monitoring an additive manufacturing with one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the additive manufacturing process can be adjusted in real-time to adjust for inconsistencies in the powdered metal.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: Vivek R. Dave, Mark J. Cola
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Patent number: 11260456Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing system that includes a build plane having a first region and a second region. Multiple energy source can be positioned above the build plane and configured to direct energy into the first and second regions of the build plane. The system includes optical sensors configured to monitor an intensity of light emitted from the energy sources. A processor associated with the additive manufacturing system is configured to adjust the sensor outputs in response to the energy sources coming into close proximity.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: SIGMA LABS, INC.Inventors: R. Bruce Madigan, Mark J. Cola, Scott Betts, Darren Beckett, Alberto M. Castro, Lars Jacquemetton, Martin Piltch