Nikon Corporation

Nikon Research Corporation of America

Patrick S Chang

Michel Pharand

Johnathan Marquez

Michael B Binnard

Daniel Gene Smith

Eric Peter Goodwin

Paul Derek Coon

Fardad A Hashemi

Travis D Bow

Matthew Rosa

Jonathan Kyle Wells

Motofusa Ishikawa

Matthew Parker-McCormick Bjork

Brett William Herr

Matthew D Rosa

Pedro Reynoso-Mora

Heather Lynn Durko

3D metrology techniques are disclosed for determining a changing topography of a substrate processed in an additive manufacturing system. Techniques include fringe scanning, simultaneous fringe projections, interferometry, and x-ray imaging. The techniques can be applied to 3D printing systems to enable rapid topographical measurements of a 3D printer powder bed, or other rapidly moving, nearly continuous surface to be tested. The techniques act in parallel to the system being measured to provide information about system operation and the topography of the product being processed. A tool is provided for achieving higher precision, increasing throughput, and reducing the cost of operation through early detection and diagnosis of operating problems and printing defects. These techniques work well with any powder bed 3D printing system, providing real-time metrology of the powder bed, the most recently printed layer, or both without reducing throughput.

Metrology for additive manufacturing

An actuator assembly () for moving a device () includes a stator component (), a mover component (), a measurement system (), and a signal processor (). The measurement system () includes (i) a magnet assembly () that is coupled to and moves with the mover component (); and (ii) a plurality of spaced apart sensors (A). The magnet assembly () produces a magnetic field (B) that moves relative to the stator component () as the mover component () moves along a mover axis (C). Each sensor (A) is a transducer that generates a sensor signal that varies its output voltage in response to the changing magnetic field (B) from the magnet assembly () as the mover component () is moved relative to the sensors (A). The signal processor () receives the sensor signals and estimates a position of the mover component () along the mover axis (C) based at least in part on the sensor signals.

Actuator assembly including magnetic sensor system for vibrationless position feedback

A clamp for selectively inhibiting movement of a first object relative to a second object includes (i) a first clamp component coupled to the first object; (ii) a second clamp component coupled to the second object; and (iii) a fluid source that directs a fluid to the second clamp component to create a fluid bearing between the first clamp component and the second clamp component that allows for movement of the first clamp component relative to the second clamp component, and wherein the fluid source directs less fluid to the second clamp component to inhibit relative movement.

Precision clamp

A rotary probe head having a dual interface for probe mounting that allows two separate interfaces to be mounted on opposite sides of the 'A' or elevation axis of the rotary probe head. The two interfaces can be rotatable and interchangeable and allow for increased flexibility in handling different types of attachments including attachments having widely different mass, size, and/or interface connections. A probe can be mounted to one interface and a counterweight can be mounted to the opposite interface for improved holding torque performance by reducing the duty force and heat factor generation of the motor in the probe head.

Rotary probe head

Growing community of inventors

Burlingame, CA, United States of America

Patrick S Chang