European Space Agency

Ald Vacuum Technologies Gmbh

Christian Lehnert

Harald Scholz

Henrik Franz

Sergejs Spitans

David John Jarvis

Markus Winton

Koulis Pericleous

Valdis Bojarevics

Hans Johann Kemmer

Andreas Eich

Peter Zotz

A device for producing metal powder. This includes a melting chamber, a downstream atomization tower, and a nozzle assembly for atomizing a melt jet. The device further includes an induction coil disposed within the melting chamber and operated at a melting frequency f, the induction coil is adapted to locally melt a material rod at least section-wise received therein, to produce the melt jet to be atomized, and a separate intermediate coil disposed within the melting chamber and operated at a base frequency f, wherein said intermediate coil is disposed downstream of the induction coil and aligned coaxially with the induction coil. The intermediate coil is configured to superheat the melt jet in a region between the induction coil and the nozzle assembly. The following applies to a frequency ratio Fof the base frequency fto the melting frequency f, 1≤F=f/f≤500.

Device and method for producing metal powder using an induction coil and an intermediate coil

The present invention relates to a system for contactless induction of high-frequency vibrations in a volume of molten metal during the manufacturing of a metal component or a metal matrix composite component. The system includes a moveably arranged electromagnetic primary coil, adjustment means for adjusting the position of the primary coil, and a control unit for controlling the position of the primary coil to a predefined distance above, but not in contact with, an upper free surface of the molten metal. The molten metal may be contained in a foundry crucible during manufacturing. The system can be used as an additive manufacturing system, with the primary coil arranged above the melt pool. A secondary low-frequency electromagnetic coil may be arranged around and at a distance from the molten metal to induce flow and/or vibrations in the molten metal.

Manufacturing of a metal component or a metal matrix composite component involving contactless induction of high-frequency vibrations

Growing community of inventors

Bad Vilbel, Germany

Christian Lehnert