Abstract: A method of automated alignment of scanning optics includes the steps of irradiating an object area of a layer of a powdered material provided on a building platform with at least one irradiation beam and irradiating a calibration area of the layer with at least one irradiation beam. A first irradiation beam is guided with a first scanning optic over an intermediate top face thereby melting a first calibration pattern into the intermediate top face and a second irradiation beam is guided with a second scanning optic over the intermediate top face thereby melting a second calibration pattern into the intermediate top face. At least one image is acquired of the intermediate top face and image points related to the geometrical features of the calibration patterns are identified so that a spatial offset between the geometrical features can be derived. Based on the spatial offset, the scanning optics are aligned.

Abstract: A measuring device for aligning a blueprint coordinate system with a build level coordinate system of a working region of a generative manufacturing device arranged in a build level includes a first sensor device configured to cover a first coverage region of the working region with a first measurement accuracy, a selection module configured to select at least one region of interest within the first coverage region, a second sensor device configured to cover the at least one selected region of interest with a second measurement accuracy, the second measurement accuracy being higher than the first measurement accuracy, and an alignment module configured to determine at least one alignment of the blueprint coordinate system relative to the build level coordinate system, including an angle alignment and/or a translation alignment, based on the covered region of interest.

Abstract: A method for displacing a continuous energy beam includes radiating the continuous energy beam onto a powder material and displacing the energy beam by overlaying an optical deflection of the energy beam using a deflection device and a mechanical deflection of the energy beam using a scanner device. The mechanical deflection is configured to position the energy beam at a plurality of irradiation positions and the optical deflection is configured to deflect the energy beam around each of the irradiation positions within a beam region onto at least one beam position of the sequence of beam positions. The optical deflection and the mechanical deflection are changed simultaneously or successively in order to scan the sequence of beam positions using the energy beam.

Abstract: A method for displacing a continuous energy beam includes emitting a continuous energy beam in a direction of a powder material and displacing the energy beam by overlaying an optical deflection of the energy beam using of a deflection device and a mechanical deflection of the energy beam using of a scanner device. The mechanical deflection is configured to position the energy beam at a plurality of irradiation positions, and the optical deflection is configured to deflect the energy beam around each of the irradiation positions within a beam region of the deflection device onto at least one beam position in a sequence of beam positions. The optical deflection and the mechanical deflection are controlled such that the energy beam successively scans subsequences with an abrupt change of the optical deflection such that two spatially separated subsequences are successively adopted by the energy beam.

Abstract: A manufacturing device for additive manufacturing of a component part from a powder material includes a beam generating device configured to generate an energy beam, a scanner device configured to displace the energy beam to a plurality of irradiation positions in order to produce the component part from the powder material arranged in the work region using the energy beam, a deflection device configured to displace the energy beam to a plurality of beam positions at an irradiation position of the plurality of irradiation positions within a beam region, and a control device operatively connected to the deflection device and configured to control the deflection device and to change a beam profile of the beam region during production of a component part by changing a control of the deflection device.

Abstract: A manufacturing device for additive manufacturing of component parts from a powder material includes a beam producing device, a scanner device configured to displace an energy beam to a plurality of irradiation positions, a deflection device configured to displace the energy beam at an irradiation position to a plurality of beam positions, and a control device configured to control the deflection device and to produce a specific intensity profile in the beam region. The control device does this by dividing and displacing the energy beam to at least two beam positions separated by a distance that is variably settable and/or by displacing the energy beam and by specifying at least one operating parameter of the deflection, such as a residence time at a beam position, a beam position density distribution, a frequency distribution, and an intensity influencing parameter of the energy beam deflected to the beam positions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for measuring a base element of a construction cylinder arrangement in machines for the additive manufacture of 3D objects using a high-energy beam, wherein a measurement pattern is produced from laser light that illuminates the base element, and sites of incidence of the laser light are monitored and evaluated with a camera to produce measuring data about the base element, e.g., position information, orientation information, and/or information about the shape of the surface of the base element. The measurement patterns are produced by deflecting measuring laser beams by an optical scanner system towards the base element, and the camera is arranged laterally offset from the deflected laser beams. The new methods and systems enable measuring base elements in a simple and flexible manner, and require only a small amount of space in the processing chamber.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a working area of a generative manufacturing device and manufacturing devices for generatively manufacturing components from a powder material are disclosed. The methods include scanning of an optical working beam of the generative manufacturing device in the working area, detecting signal values of remitted light of the optical working beam traveling along an optical axis of the optical working beam in a location-dependent manner, wherein a signal value is assigned to each location of the scan of the optical working beam in the working area, and obtaining an image of the working area from the location-dependent detected signal values. The optical working beam for detecting the working area is operated with an optical output power that is reduced compared to a lower power limit for the optical output power of the optical working beam used during generative manufacturing.

Abstract: A method operates a powder bed-based manufacturing device for additive manufacturing of a component from a powder material. The method includes: taking at least one optical recording of a working powder layer of the powder material on a construction location of the manufacturing device; locally evaluating the at least one optical recording; and examining the working powder layer for local coating errors using the evaluation of the at least one optical recording.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for calibrating processing machines for the production of 3D components by irradiation of powder layers, wherein the processing machine includes a scanner device for positioning a laser beam in a processing field in which a height-adjustable construction platform for the application of the powder layers by sweeping at least two, e.g., three markings, e.g., in the form of spherical retroreflectors, which are applied on the construction platform and/or on a preform , by the laser beam, detecting laser radiation reflected back from the markings into the scanner device , determining actual positions of the markings , determining deviations of the actual positions of the markings from setpoint positions of the markings, and calibrating the processing machine by correcting the positioning of the laser beam and/or the position of the construction platform using the determined deviations. The disclosure also relates to associated processing machines.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for measuring a base element of a construction cylinder arrangement in machines for the additive manufacture of 3D objects using a high-energy beam, wherein a measurement pattern is produced from laser light that illuminates the base element, and sites of incidence of the laser light are monitored and evaluated with a camera to produce measuring data about the base element, e.g., position information, orientation information, and/or information about the shape of the surface of the base element. The measurement patterns are produced by deflecting measuring laser beams by an optical scanner system towards the base element, and the camera is arranged laterally offset from the deflected laser beams. The new methods and systems enable measuring base elements in a simple and flexible manner, and require only a small amount of space in the processing chamber.