Apparatus for 3D laser printing by heating/fusing metal wire or powder material with controllable melt pool

Abstract

An apparatus for 3D laser printing and a method for fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool on a substrate are provided. The apparatus contains a metal wire or powder feed unit and a plurality of laser sources symmetrically arranged on the surface of an imaginary hemisphere. Each laser source contains a laser with a laser beam focusing lens that focuses the laser beam in a focal point at a given distance from the focusing lens. The laser source is also provided with CPU/GPU-controlled devices for independently shifting each laser or a group of lasers along the optical axis and/or for tilting the lasers relative to the longitudinal axis of the source housing so that heating or fusing can be performed by placing the focal points of the lasers selectively at any point of the material or on a substrate for forming and controlling the melt pool.

Claims

1. An apparatus for 3D laser printing for fusing a metal material in a melting point of the metal material with control of a melt pool formed on a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a material feeder configured to feed a metal material toward the substrate; a plurality of laser sources, each laser source having a laser with an optical axis and generating a laser beam, which propagates in the direction of the optical axis of the laser and is tilted relative to a longitudinal axis corresponding to a direction along which the metal material is fed towards the substrate, the plurality of laser sources being arranged symmetrically on at least one imaginary hemispherical surface having a center, which lies on the longitudinal axis, the laser beams from the plurality of laser sources intersecting the longitudinal axis and focusing in the center of the imaginary hemispherical surface; wherein each laser source comprises: a longitudinal housing having a longitudinal housing axis and containing the laser having the optical axis aligned with the longitudinal housing axis; the longitudinal housing containing: means for reciprocation motions of the laser in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis; means for tilting motions of the laser relative to the longitudinal housing axis; and means for linking the laser with the means for reciprocation motions of the laser and allowing the laser to move in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis and to tilt the laser relative to the longitudinal housing axis; and a laser beam focusing lens that focuses the laser beam in a focal point at a given distance from the focusing lens; and an object-formation table that supports the substrate on which a 3D laser printing object of a predetermined shape is formed, and which possesses at least three degrees of freedom for motions relative to the longitudinal axis and optical axes of the laser beams.

2. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 1, wherein the means for reciprocation motions of the laser in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis is a voice coil and the means for tilting motions of the laser is a piezo-actuator.

3. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 2, wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of a metal wire and a metal powder.

4. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 1, further comprising programmable means for connecting individually to each means for reciprocation motions and each means for tilting motions of the laser relative to the longitudinal housing axis for selectively controlling motions of each laser in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis and for selectively tilting the lasers relative to the longitudinal housing axis.

5. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 4, wherein the means for reciprocation motions of the laser in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis is a voice coil and the means for tilting motions of the laser is a piezo-actuator.

6. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 5, wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of a metal wire and a metal powder, the programmable means being selected from a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit.

7. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 4, further comprising a through opening that is formed in the center of the hemispherical surface for passing the material feeder.

8. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 4, wherein the laser sources are divided into separate groups, wherein each group is arranged on a separate concentric circle on the imaginary hemispherical surface, each concentric circle being formed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the direction of which the metal material is fed.

9. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 1, wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of a metal wire and a metal powder.

10. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 9, further comprising a through opening that is formed in the center of the hemispherical surface for passing the material feeder.

11. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 9, wherein the laser sources are divided into separate groups, wherein each group is arranged on a separate concentric circle on the imaginary hemispherical surface, each concentric circle being formed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the direction of which the metal material is fed.

12. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 1, further comprising a through opening that is formed in the center of the imaginary hemispherical surface for passing the material feeder.

13. The apparatus for 3D laser printing according to claim 1, wherein the laser sources are divided into separate groups, wherein each group is arranged on a separate concentric circle on the imaginary hemispherical surface, each concentric circle being formed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the direction of which the metal material is fed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic general sectional view of an apparatus of the invention for 3D laser printing by fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool formed on a substrate.

(2) FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of an assembly of a plurality of identical laser sources, which, according to the invention, are arranged symmetrically on the surface of an imaginary hemisphere.

(3) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the laser sources of FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a control system used in the apparatus of the invention.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a method according to one aspect of the invention, wherein the common focal point of the laser beams may assume different positions on a metal wire supplied by the metal material feed unit.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a method according to another aspect of the invention, wherein, for controlling a shape and dimensions of the melt pool, the focal points of the laser beams are located at a distance from the longitudinal axis, in the direction of which the metal material is fed.

(7) FIG. 7 is a view which is similar to FIG. 1, except that a wire metal material is used instead of the powder metal material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(8) An apparatus for 3D laser printing and a method for fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool on a substrate are provided. The apparatus contains a metal wire or powder feed unit and a plurality of identical laser sources symmetrically arranged on the surface of an imaginary hemisphere. Each laser source contains a laser with a laser-beam focusing lens that focuses the laser beam in a focal point at a given distance from the focusing lens. The laser source is also provided with CPU/GPU-controlled devices for independently shifting each laser or a group of lasers along the optical axis and/or for tilting the lasers relative to the longitudinal axis of the laser source housing so that the focal points of the lasers can be selectively positioned at any point of the fed material or on a substrate for forming and controlling the melt pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The present invention relates to laser printing, more particularly to 3D laser printing, and specifically to an apparatus and a method for 3D laser printing by fusing a metal wire material with controllable melt pool. The invention may find use in additive manufacturing for the production of various models having intricate shapes the production of which by conventional manufacturing methods requires the use of a complicated and expensive equipment that involves multiple manufacturing steps, etc. The invention may also find use in creation of souvenir products, design of jewelry and interior items, creation of architectural models, creation of spare parts and technical structures, creation of trial packaging designs, and the like.

(10) The invention will be described below in more detail with reference to specific drawings that illustrate modifications according to various aspects of the invention.

(11) As shown in FIG. 1, which is a schematic general sectional view of an apparatus for 3D laser printing by fusing a metal material with control of a melt pool formed on a substrate, the apparatus contains a metal material feed unit 22 having a longitudinal axis X1-X1, in the direction of which the metal material is fed. The apparatus 20 also contains a plurality of laser sources 24-1, 24-2 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n. Although four such laser sources are shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1, a plurality means two or more than four laser sources, and four of them are shown only as an example for simplicity of the drawings. In fact, as shown in FIG. 2, the laser sources 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n have a three-dimensional distribution. In the example of FIG. 2, the laser sources are arranged uniformly and symmetrically on an imaginary hemispherical surface 26 (FIG. 1) and are installed on concentric circles 25a and 25b on the imaginary hemispherical surface 26. Concentric circles 25a and 25b are formed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X1-X1 in the direction of which the metal material is fed. For simplification of the drawing, only two such circular groups of the laser sources are shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the laser sources 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . which are formed on the concentric circle 25a belong to a first group G1, and the laser sources . . . 24-(n−1) and 24-n belong to a second group G2.

(12) If necessary, several hemispherical shapes arranged one inside the other (not shown) can be used for combination of lasers with different focal lengths, e.g., 100 mm and 50 mm. For example, the 100 mm lasers may be positions “behind” the 50 mm lasers, and only the beams of 50 mm lasers may allow to pass through tiny openings. Such a multi-spherical arrangement is not shown for simplicity of the drawings.

(13) The laser sources 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n are held in an assembled state, e.g., by ribs 26-1, 26-2, 26-3 . . . 26-(n−1), 26-n, which are secured to form an integral structure connected, e.g., to a cylindrical body 30 having a central opening 32 for passing the metal material feed unit 22 (FIG. 1) oriented along the central opening 32.

(14) Reference numeral 34 (FIG. 1) designates an object-formation table that supports a substrate S on which a 3D laser printing object of a predetermined shape is to be formed and which possesses at least three degrees of freedom for motions relative to the longitudinal axis X1-X1 of the material feed unit 22.

(15) A construction of the object-formation table is beyond the scope of the present invention and may be represented by the end effector of an industrial robot arm having six-degrees of freedom, which is disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 8,243,730 issued on Aug. 14, 2012 to M. Nichols, et al. The end effector that holds a workpiece has drive mechanisms that provide the workpiece with at least five degrees of freedom such as linear motions in the directions of X, Y, Z axes and two turns at angles ϕ and θ, as shown in FIG. 1. The end effector of the aforementioned patent provides such motions.

(16) The metal material to be fused in the 3D laser printing process by the apparatus 20 is designated by letter M (FIG. 1) and is fed from the material supply unit 22 toward the substrate S in the direction of the axis X1-X1. The metal material M may be represented by a metal wire W or a thin stream of a metal powder P.

(17) In case of a metal wire W, the structure of the material supply unit may be represented by the device disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/739,874 filed on Jan. 10, 2020 by the inventors herein and entitled: “Apparatus and Method for 3D Laser Printing by Fusing Metal Wire Material”.

(18) In case of a metal powder, the structure of the material supply unit may be represented by modifying the device disclosed in US Patent Application Publication 20140263195A1 (inventor: Q. Shuck, Published on Sep. 18, 2014) and entitled “Variable working distance for laser deposition”. A modified device will differ from one shown in the aforementioned in that the powder material feed unit will be arranged vertically in the direction of axis X1-X1 shown in FIG. 1. This is possible because the spatial arrangement of the laser sources 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n provides the aforementioned opening 32 for passing the metal material feed unit 22.

(19) Since all laser sources 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n are identical, let us consider one of them, e.g. a laser source 24-1 shown in FIG. 3. The laser source 24-1 has a tubular housing 33, which has a longitudinal housing axis X2-X2 and contains a voice coil actuator 35. A voice coil actuator, also known as a DC linear actuator, is known also as a direct drive linear motor. It consists of a permanent magnetic field assembly in the form of a permanent magnet 34a with a ferrous steel member 34b and a coil assembly 34c. The current flowing through the coil assembly 34c interacts with the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet member 34a and generates a force vector perpendicular to the direction of the current. The force vector can be reversed by changing the polarity of current flowing through the coil. The coil 34c is secured in a cup-shaped cylindrical body 34d, which moves during the aforementioned interaction in the direction of a central axis X2-X2 of the laser source 24-1.

(20) The laser source 24-1 also contains a laser 36, which has an optical axis X3-X3 and generates a laser beam B1 (FIG. 1) that propagates in the direction of the optical axis X3-X3 of the laser 36. The longitudinal axis X2-X2 of the laser source 24-1 and, hence, the optical axis X3-X3 of the laser 36 are tilted relative to the longitudinal axis X1-X1 of the material feed unit 22, and the laser 36 (as the lasers of all other laser sources 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n) are arranged so that their respective beams B2 . . . Bn, as well as the aforementioned laser beam B1, intersect the longitudinal axis X1-X1 of the material feed unit 22. A focusing lens 36a is installed at the end of the laser 36 that faces the substrate S supported by the object-formation table 34 (FIG. 1).

(21) The laser beam focusing lens 36a focuses the laser beam in a focal point (F1) in FIG. 3 at a given distance from the lens. The focal point F1 is shown in two different positions because the laser 36 can move not only in the axis direction of the longitudinal housing axis X2-X2 but also tilt within the housing 33. This is achieved by providing the laser source with a mechanism for axial motions of the laser, i.e., with the voice coil actuator 35, but also with a mechanism 38 for tilting motions of the laser 36 relative to the longitudinal housing axis X2-X2. In order to provide the laser 36 with mobility in the axial direction along with tiltability relative to the axial direction, the laser 36 is linked to the cup-shaped cylindrical body 34d via an articulation device 40.

(22) The articulation device 40 may be represented by a Hooke's joint or a cardan mechanism, and the mechanism for tilting motions of the laser 36 may be represented by a piezo actuator 38. The piezo actuator 38 can tilt the laser 36 to a position, in which the optical axis X3-X3 of the laser 36 forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis X2-X2 of the laser source 24-1. The piezo-actuator 38 may be exemplified, e.g., by PA4FLW—Piezo Chip, 150 V, 6.1 μm Displacement, 5.0×5.0×5.0 mm, Narrow Electrodes, Pre-Attached Wires, a product of THORLABS, Newton, New Jersey, United States.

(23) Reference numeral 42 designates a mechanism for returning the laser 36 to the position, in which the axes X3-X3 and X2-X2 coincide. The returning mechanism 42 may be comprised of a spring-loaded ball, or the like.

(24) Although the mechanism for tilting the longitudinal axis X3 of the laser relative to the longitudinal axis X2 of the housing is shown as a single piezo actuator 38 with a spring-loaded ball 42 as a returning mechanism, it is understood that fixation of the laser in a predetermined tilted position requires the use of at least two additional pairs of the piezo actuator and the returning mechanism, which are not shown in the drawings but arranged circumferentially with the piezo actuator 38 and the returning mechanism 42 at equal distances from each other and from the pair shown and designated in FIG. 3.

(25) FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a control system 44 of the apparatus 20 (FIG. 1) of the invention. The control system 44 contains a programmable device 46 such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), which is electrically connected to four control units 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d. Each control unit, in turn, is connected to each laser source (24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n). The laser sources are not shown in FIG. 4 but connection of the control units 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d is designated by the respective arrows 24-1a, 24-2a . . . 24-na (for simplicity of the drawing, these connections are designated only on the control unit 46a). More specifically, the control unit 46a contains individual drivers (not shown) for each laser source 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n for activation of the laser sources, and for adjusting their output light power. The control unit 46b is responsible for controlling thermoelectric cooling of the laser sources. The control unit 46c controls operation of the voice coil actuators 35 (FIG. 3). The control unit 46d controls operation of the piezo actuators 38.

(26) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the CPU/GPU is also linked to the driver 48 of the object-formation table 34 (FIG. 1). Under commands of the CPU/GPU 46, the object-formation table 34 that possesses at least three degrees of freedom performs spatial motions according to a program preliminarily inputted into the CPU/GPU 46, thus making it possible to form three-dimensional articles of intricate profiles with high accuracy that in some cases may be unachievable or difficult to reach by conventional numeral controlled machine tools. Thus, the CPU 46 is connected through the respective control units 46a, 46b, 46c, and 436d individually to each laser source of 24-1, 24-2, 24-3 . . . 24-(n−1), 24-n of the plurality for controlling them individually or by dividing them into groups, such as the aforementioned groups G1 and G2 for moving their lasers, such as the laser 36 (FIG. 3), in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis X2-X2. The CPU/GPU is also connected to each device 38 for tilting the laser 36 relative to the longitudinal housing axis X2-X2.

(27) The present invention also provides a for 3D laser printing for fusing a metal material with a controllable melt pool. The method is carried out with the use of the apparatus 20 of the type described above. According to one aspect of the invention, the method consists of the following steps: providing an object-formation table 34 and placing on the object-formation table 34 a substrate S on which a 3D laser printing object of a predetermined shape is to be formed; and feeding a metal material M (metal wire or metal powder (FIG. 1) from which the object of a predetermined shape is to be formed in a direction of an axis X1-X1 that passes through the center C of the hemispherical surface and that is perpendicular to the substrate. In the modification of FIG. 5, the common focal point of the laser units 24-a and 24-n is shifted up along the axis X1-X1 for a distance d from the center C on the surface of the substrate S to the point C1 on the same axis. This is achieved by tilting the lasers (not shown) of the respective laser units 24-a and 24-n by an angle α1.

(28) In a modification of the method shown in FIG. 6, the focal points Fa and Fn−2 of the laser beams do not intersect the axis X1-X1 are located at a distance d1 from substrate S. Further steps consist of generating a plurality of laser beams (B1, B2 . . . Bn) by the laser units 24-1, 24-2 . . . 24-n, which are arranged symmetrically on a hemispherical surface 26 and have respective optical axes such as optical axis X3-X3 shown in FIG. 3. Each laser beam generated by the laser unit has a focal point that can be positioned at different positions on the optical axis X3-X3 by displacing the laser 36 in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis X2-X2 by means of the voice coil actuator. Next step is treating the metal material M by fusing on the surface of the substrate S (in case of a metal powder P) or heating/preheating the metal material (in case of a metal wire W) at a selected point. Positioning of the focal point of the laser beam depends on a type of the metal material selected from a powder or a wire. A predetermined shape is imparted to the object by spatially moving the object-formation table 34 in a space relative to the hemispherical surface 26.

(29) Based on the generalized description of the method given above, a plurality of object formation processes are possible. For example, the material of the substrate S can be heated to a temperature close to the substrate material fusing point or melted to form a melt pool MP (FIGS. 5 and 6) into which a powder material P is poured from the material feeding unit 22. It is understood that the melt pool is formed by concentrating focuses of the laser beams in the center C of the hemisphere and thus melting a material of the substrate. By shifting the focal point F1 of each laser unit to a selected position on the optical axis, it is possible to control a size and temperature of the melt pool MP for optimization of the process.

(30) When it is necessary, e.g., to preheat a metal wire, which is oriented in the direction of axis X1-X1 to a predetermined temperature in the point C1 above the center C, the lasers (such as the laser 36 of FIG. 3) of the respective laser sources 24-4 and 24-(n−2) are tilted inside the tubular 33 (FIG. 3) and at the same time the focal points F1 of the respective lasers 36 are shifted in the direction of the axis X3-X3 so that the common focal point of the lasers assume position C1 shown in FIG. 5. In other words, by selectively shifting the focal point of the lasers and tilting the optical axes of the lasers, it becomes possible to concentrate focal points of the laser beams at any point, both on the material or on the substrate. In FIG. 5 the second position of the laser sources and their beams are shown by broken lines. Double-headed arrows 24-a′ and 24-n′ show axial displacements of the lasers, and angle α1 shows angular displacements of the lasers relative to the axes of their tubular housings.

(31) If necessary, by placing the focal points of the laser beams on the metal material, e.g., the wire material W, it is possible not to fuse the material but rather preheat it to a hot-bending state so that the material can be maintained in a flowable state that allows deposition thereof on a previously laid layer and thus to form a layer-by-layer structure. The point of intersection of the beams may be in the position C1 or in the point C (FIG. 5) on the surface of the substrate.

(32) FIG. 6 is a view similar to one shown in FIG. 5 but illustrating a process for adjusting the size and temperature of the melt pool MP. In other words, the temperature of the melt pool MP may be adjusted by positioning the focal points at different distances from the surface of the substrate. The temperature of the pool MP is increased by approaching the focal points Fa and Fn−2 to the surface of the substrate or decreased by moving the focal points Fa and Fn−2 away from the surface of the substrate.

(33) FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, except that a wire metal material W is used instead of the powder metal material P.

(34) Although the apparatus and method of the invention were described with reference to specific modifications, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these modifications and any changes are possible without deviations from the scope of the attached patent claims. For example hemiellipsoidal surface of rotation can be used for arrangement of the laser sources instead of a hemispherical surface. The laser sources can be divided to more than two groups and may form groups by selecting them from circles of different diameters on the hemispherical surface. Mechanisms other than a voice coil actuator and a piezo electric actuator can be used for shifting the lasers axially and angularly. A programmable device other than CPU or GPU may be used for individually controlling operations of the system units. Thus, by selectively using laser units individually or by groups, it is possible to place focal points of the lasers at any point on the metal material, the substrate, or in space for forming a 3D product and/or controlling the melt pool. The individual laser units or the groups can be used simultaneously or at any time sequence. The laser units may be identical or different in light power.