Abstract

A one-step rapid manufacuring process is used to create three dimensional prototyping parts. Material such as metal, ceramics and the like powder, and wire, and the like, is delivered to a laser beam-material interaction region where it is melted and deposited on a substrate. The melted and deposited material is placed on a XYZ workstation. Three dimensional parts are created by moving the XYZ workstation relative to the laser beam while simultaneously feeding powdered alloys, first in the XY and then in the Z plane. Beam shaping focussing optics can be used to tailor the intensity distribution of the laser beam to the requirements of the deposition layers, and can be used to create parts with desired mechanical or thermodynamic properties. Additional beam splitting and recombining optics can be used to allow powder to be fed at a perpendicular angle to the substrate.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 6,203,861

Application Serial Number

09/221,553

Issue Date

3-20-2001

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

CREOL

Allowance Date

11-15-2000

Filing Date

12-28-1998

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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