Abstract: A planning device for planning locally selective irradiation of a work region using an energy beam in order to produce a component from a powder material arranged in the work region is provided. The planning device is configured to obtain a plurality of irradiation vectors for irradiating a powder material layer arranged in the work region with the energy beam. The planning device is further configured to determine a vector alignment in a coordinate system on the work region for at least one irradiation vector of the plurality of irradiation vectors, and to specify, for the at least one irradiation vector, a beam alignment for a non-circular beam shape of the energy beam on the work region relative to the vector alignment of the at least one irradiation vector.

Abstract: A method for planning locally selective irradiation of a working region with an energy beam in order to produce a component from a powder material arranged in the working region includes defining an origin on a component contour of a component layer to be generated on a powder material layer in the working region, and overlaying the component contour, based on the origin, with an arrangement of irradiation regions to be irradiated with the energy beam. Each irradiation region has a dimension that is predetermined independently of the component contour and identical for all irradiation regions.

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: Disclosed is a method for generatively producing or for repairing at least one area of a component, wherein a zone arranged downstream of a molten bath is post-heated to a post-heating temperature and the component is set to a base temperature, and also a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for laser-based generative component production. The device comprises a processing head (1), using which a plurality of mutually separate laser beams are directed adjacently and/or overlapping to some extent onto the processing plane, The processing head (1) is moved across the processing plane using a movement apparatus (9), while the mutually separate laser beams are modulated independently of one another in terms of intensity, in order to obtain the desired exposure geometry. The laser power and the dimensional size can be scaled cost effectively during the generative production using the suggested device and the associated method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a (shaped) ceramic or glass-ceramic article, involving the steps of: (a) providing a powder or a powder mixture comprising ceramic or glass-ceramic material, (b) depositing a layer of said powder or powder mixture on a surface, (d) heating at least one region of said layer by means of an energy beam or a plurality of energy beams to a maximum temperature such that at least a part of said ceramic or glass-ceramic material in said at least one region is melted and (e) cooling said at least one region of said layer so that at least part of the material melted in step (d) is solidified, such that the layer is joined with said surface in said at least one region. The invention also relates to ceramic or glass-ceramic articles and their use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generatively producing or for repairing at least one area of a component, wherein a zone arranged downstream of a molten bath is post-heated to a post-heating temperature and the component is set to a base temperature, and also a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a (shaped) ceramic or glass-ceramic article, involving the steps of: (a) providing a powder or a powder mixture comprising ceramic or glass-ceramic material, (b) depositing a layer of said powder or powder mixture on a surface, (d) heating at least one region of said layer by means of an energy beam or a plurality of energy beams to a maximum temperature such that at least a part of said ceramic or glass-ceramic material in said at least one region is melted and (e) cooling said at least one region of said layer so that at least part of the material melted in step (d) is solidified, such that the layer is joined with said surface in said at least one region. The invention also relates to ceramic or glass-ceramic articles and their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a generative method of fabrication and an accompanying device with which components can be fabricated from a combination of materials. The device comprises a bottom surface (1) with a lowerable building platform (2), a leveling mechanism (5) for leveling a first material (4) in a processing plane (3) above the building platform (2), a laser beam source for emitting a laser beam (11), a processing unit (6) with a focusing optical system (8) for focusing the laser beam (11) onto the processing plane (3) and a positioning mechanism which can position the processing unit (6) in any desired positions in a plane parallel to the processing plane (3) above the component (14). Furthermore, the device is provided with a suction device (10) for sectioning off the material from the processing plane (3) and an introduction mechanism (9) for a second material (12) with which the latter is brought into the focal range of the laser beam (11).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for the selective laser sintering of metallic substances. The construction volume of the device is delimited by side walls (2) and by a construction platform (3), which is adjustable in height, for building up a component (9). A heating plate (5) is placed on the construction platform (3) at a distance from the side walls (2) or is integrated in the surface of the construction platform (3). The heating plate (5) is designed and thermally insulated from the construction platform (3) by an insulation layer (4) in such a manner that it reaches temperatures of at least 500° C. during heating operation. With the device and the corresponding method, metallic components are maintained at temperatures above 500° C. during the building up process thereby reducing the danger of tensions or cracking in the component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process chamber for the selective laser fusion of material powder for the production of moulded parts. The process chamber consists of a closed chamber (1) having a bottom area, side walls and a cover area (6), a reservoir volume (3) and a production volume (2) in said bottom area, and first inlet and outlet openings (7, 9) for a protective gas. In the cover area (6), above the production volume (2), a raised region is provided with side areas, in which a beam injection window (10) is disposed that is transparent to laser radiation to be coupled in. Second inlet openings (13) are provided for a further gas in the side areas of the raised region. With the inventive design of the process chamber it is possible to protect the beam injection window (10) efficiently from being soiled by gaseous components rising from the zone of interaction, without impairment of the efficiency in guiding the protective gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a process using a laser beam to scan an area of an object, in particular, for selective laser melting of metal powder for fabrication of a mold. The device is provided with a plotter mechanic with two linear axes (4, 5) over which a carrier element can be positioned and moved, an optical means, which guides the laser beam to the carrier element or provides the laser beam at the carrier element, a scanning means (9) at the carrier element, which guides the laser beam to the area of the object and moves the laser beam back and forth in a presetable angle, a focusing optic (15) for focusing the laser beam (8) onto the area of the object (11).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a molded body, in accordance with three-dimensional CAD data of a model of a molded body, by depositing layers of a metallic material in powder form. Several layers of powder are successively deposited one on top of the other, whereby each layer of powder is heated to a specific temperature by means of a focused laser beam applied to a given area corresponding to a selected cross-sectional area of the model of the molded body, before deposition of the next layer. The laser beam is guided over each layer of powder in accordance with the CAD cross-sectional data of the selected cross-sectional area of the model in such a way that each layer of powder is fixed to the layer below it.