Additive manufacturing system including an optical isolator

Abstract

An additive manufacturing apparatus including an energy source configured for transmitting a laser, a build plate configured to have a powder configured to be heated by the laser for additive manufacturing, at least one mirror positioned between the energy source and the build plate, the at least one mirror configured to direct the laser from the energy source to the build plate, and an optical isolator configured to reduce energy bounce back into the energy source.

Claims

1. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: an energy source, outfitted with a laser transmitter, configured for transmitting a laser; a build plate configured to have a powder to be heated by the laser for additive manufacturing; at least one mirror positioned between the energy source and the build plate, the at least one mirror configured to direct the laser from the energy source to the build plate; and an optical isolator positioned between the build plate and the energy source configured to reduce energy bounce back into the energy source and configured to prevent shut down of the laser transmitter due to reflection of the laser off of the build plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser emits from about 800 nm to about 2200 nm near-infrared wavelength.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the build plate includes the powder disposed thereon of at least one of copper, silver, beryllium or other highly reflective metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one mirror includes a polarization coating to reduce back reflections to the optical isolator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser that the energy source is configured to transmit is a non-polarized laser.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser that the energy source is configured to transmit is a polarized laser.

7. An optical arrangement for an additive manufacturing system, comprising: at least one mirror positioned between an energy source outfitted with a laser transmitter, and a build plate of the additive manufacturing system, wherein the at least one mirror is configured to direct a laser beam transmitted from the energy source to the build plate configured to have a powder to be heated by the laser beam; and an optical isolator positioned between the build plate and the energy source configured to reduce energy bounce back into the energy source and configured to prevent shut down of the laser transmitter due to reflection of the laser off of the build plate.

8. The optical arrangement of claim 7, wherein the build plate includes the powder disposed thereon of at least one of copper, silver, beryllium or other highly reflective metal.

9. The optical arrangement of claim 7, wherein the at least one mirror includes a polarization coating to reduce back reflections to the optical isolator.

10. The optical arrangement of claim 7, wherein the energy source is configured to transmit is a non-polarized laser.

11. The optical arrangement of claim 7, wherein the energy source is configured to transmit is a polarized laser.

12. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: an energy source, outfitted with a laser transmitter, configured for transmitting a laser; a build plate configured to have a powder configured to be heated by the laser for additive manufacturing; at least one mirror positioned between the energy source and the build plate, the at least one mirror configured to direct the laser from the energy source to the build plate; and an optical isolator, positioned between the build plate and the energy source, configured to reduce energy bounce back into the energy source and configured to prevent shut down of the laser transmitter due to reflection of the laser off of the build plate, wherein the optical isolator includes glass, crystal, and/or metal components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an additive manufacturing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of an additive manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. The methods and systems of the invention can be used to protect the additive manufacturing apparatus from laser reflection and to reduce manufacturing stoppages and downtime due to the reflections.

(4) FIG. 1 shows, an additive manufacturing apparatus 100 forming an additively manufactured part 101 using a laser being transmitted from an energy source 102 outfitted with a laser transmitter 104, a build plate 106 having a powder 108, a mirror 110 positioned between the energy source 102 and the build plate 106 to direct the laser from the energy source 102 to the build plate 106. The energy source 102 is monitored for a reflected portion of the laser being reflected. The mirror includes a polarization coating that supports the optical isolator and further minimizes back reflections. The optical isolator 112 is positioned between the mirror 110 and the energy source 102. The optical isolator 112 can include metal components, glass components, crystal components and/or fiber optic components. The laser transmitter 104 may require the laser be linearly polarized, circularly polarized, or not polarized. Any type of optical isolator may be used dependent upon the system 100 defined by the equipment manufacturer for the additive manufacturing process. The optical isolator 112 reduces energy bounce back into the energy source 102.

(5) When the powder includes copper, silver, beryllium or another similar highly reflective metal which reflects energy at approximately 800-2200 nm wavelength, the reflected energy can burn, overheat or even destroy the internal components of the laser transmitter 104, leading to a shutdown of the laser transmitter 104 if the energy enters the transmitter 104. Therefore the optical isolator, the build plate and the energy source, is configured to reduce energy bounce back into the energy source and configured to prevent shut down of the laser transmitter due to reflection of the laser off of the build plate.

(6) The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for an additive manufacturing apparatus with superior properties including increased reliability and stability. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been showing and described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and score of the subject disclosure.