An additive manufacturing system includes a high power laser to form a high fluence laser beam. A 2D patternable light valve having a structure responsive to electron emission is positioned to receive and pattern light received from the high power laser.
A print engine of an additive manufacturing system includes a print station configured to hold a removable cartridge. A laser engine including a frame can be positioned to hold at least one removable field replaceable unit that includes at least some laser optics or patterning optics. An optical alignment system can be attached to at least one of the print station or the laser engine to align the field replaceable unit with respect to the removable cartridge.
B29C 64/153 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
B33Y 30/00 - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Details thereof or accessories therefor
B29C 64/259 - Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers interchangeable
B29C 64/268 - Arrangements for irradiation using electron beams [EB]
B23K 26/02 - Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
3.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM USING A PULSE MODULATED LASER FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include providing a powder bed and directing a shaped laser beam pulse train consisting of one or more pulses and having a flux greater than 20 kW/cm2 at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. This minimizes adverse laser plasma effects during the process of melting and fusing powder within the defined two dimensional region.
An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved optical systems supporting beam combining, beam steering, and both patterned and unpatterned beam recycling and re-use are described.
B29C 64/153 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting