A method for verifying a size of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of providing a first beam spot having a predetermined size and power at a first position on a work piece, varying a focus and/or astigmatism lens setting for said first beam spot until max intensity for the beam spot is detected, comparing the detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for said maximum intensity of the beam spot with stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for the beam spot with said predetermined size and power, repeating step a-c for different predetermined beam powers, repeating step a-d for different positions on said work piece, wherein said beam spot size is verified if each detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens are deviating less than a predetermined value from corresponding stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens.

A method for verifying a position of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of: providing a calibrated energy beam having a first focus in a at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said first focus, providing said calibrated energy beam having a second focus in said at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said second focus, comparing said at least two positions created with said first and second focus, wherein said position of the energy beam is verified if said positions created with said first focus are deviating less than a predetermined distance from said positions created with said second focus.

A device for detecting X-rays radiated out of a substrate surface, said device comprising at least one X-ray detector, a resolver grating and a modulator grating, said resolver grating with at least one opening facing towards said X-ray detector is arranged in front of said X-ray detector. Said modulator grating is provided between said resolver grating and said substrate at a predetermined distance from said resolver grating and said substrate, where said modulator grating having a plurality of openings in at least a first direction, wherein said x-rays from said surface is spatially modulated with said modulator grating and resolver grating.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems, methods, and apparatus for locating and drilling closed holes of a gas turbine component. According to an example embodiment, the method can include receiving position data associated with one or more holes in a gas turbine component; receiving predefined hole position data from manufacturing data associated with the gas turbine component; determining at least one missing hole, based at least in part on comparing the received position data to the predefined hole position data; and drilling at least one hole in the gas turbine component corresponding to the determined at least one missing hole.

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for welding a workpiece comprising the steps of: making a first weld at a first position on said workpiece with a high energy beam, deflecting the high energy beam with at least one deflection lens for making a second weld at a second position on said workpiece, focusing the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one focusing lens, shaping the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one astigmatism lens so that the shape of the high energy beam on said workpiece is longer in a direction parallel to a deflection direction of said high energy beam than in a direction perpendicular to said deflection direction of said high energy beam. The invention is also related to the use of an astigmatism lens and to a method for forming a three dimensional article.

An additive manufacturing apparatus including a supporting plate, an energy source and a temperature control device is provided. A plurality of powder layers are adapted to be stacked on the supporting plate in sequence. The energy source is adapted to provide energy beams to the powder layers in sequence, such that each of the powder layers is at least partially shaped. The temperature control device is adapted to heat the power layers, so as to control a temperature of each of the powder layers being shaped.

A method for verifying a size of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of providing a first beam spot having a predetermined size and power at a first position on a work piece, varying a focus and/or astigmatism lens setting for said first beam spot until max intensity for the beam spot is detected, comparing the detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for said maximum intensity of the beam spot with stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens for the beam spot with said predetermined size and power, repeating step a-c for different predetermined beam powers, repeating step a-d for different positions on said work piece, wherein said beam spot size is verified if each detected settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens are deviating less than a predetermined value from corresponding stored settings of said focus lens and/or astigmatism lens.

A method for verifying a position of an energy beam spot, said method comprising the steps of: providing a calibrated energy beam having a first focus in a at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said first focus, providing said calibrated energy beam having a second focus in said at least two positions at a work table, detecting said at least two positions of said energy beam spot on said work table created with said energy beam having said second focus, comparing said at least two positions created with said first and second focus, wherein said position of the energy beam is verified if said positions created with said first focus are deviating less than a predetermined distance from said positions created with said second focus.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved structure formation, part creation and manipulation, use of multiple additive manufacturing systems, and high throughput manufacturing methods suitable for automated or semi-automated factories are also disclosed.

Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.