The Boeing Company

Peter J Bocchini

Daniel Elliott Sievers

Ali Yousefiani

Dennis Lynn Coad

Bruno Zamorano Senderos

Paul N Wilson

An AM apparatus for an AM process is provided. The AM apparatus includes a build chamber with a build plate to support one or more parts built with a powder, during a build operation. The AM apparatus further includes a laser assembly operable to deliver a melting laser beam, to melt and fuse the powder used to build the one or more parts. The AM apparatus further includes a part detachment assembly, separate from the laser assembly and operable for a cutting operation. The part detachment assembly includes one or more laser beam delivery apparatuses, each operable to deliver a cutting laser beam, and a part holder apparatus. During the cutting operation, the part holder apparatus holds the one or more parts, and each of the laser beam delivery apparatus(es) delivers the cutting laser beam, to detach the one or more parts from the build plate within the AM apparatus.

Additive manufacturing apparatus and system with a part detachment assembly, and method of using the same

A steel alloy including, by weight percent: Ni: 18 to 19%; Co: 11.5 to 12.5%; Mo: 4.6 to 5.2%; Ti: 1.3 to 1.6%; Al: 0.05 to 0.15%; Nb: 0.15 to 0.30%; B: 0.003 to 0.020%; Cr: max 0.25%; Mn: max 0.1%; Si: max 0.1%; C: max 0.03%; P: max 0.005%; and S: max 0.002%, the balance being iron plus incidental impurities.

Steel alloy and method for heat treating steel alloy components

There is provided an AM apparatus for an AM process. The AM apparatus has an AM assembly with a build chamber to support part(s) built with a powder, in a build operation. Unused powder accumulates in the build chamber during the build operation. The AM apparatus has a vacuum assembly with duct line(s) in flow communication with the build chamber, and a powder receptacle in flow communication with the duct line(s). The powder receptacle has coupling member(s) allowing the powder receptacle to be reversibly attached to the duct line(s). The vacuum assembly includes a vacuum apparatus coupled to, and in flow communication with, the powder receptacle, via vacuum duct line(s). The vacuum assembly pulls the unused powder from the build chamber to the powder receptacle, and provides an automated removal of the unused powder from the build chamber into the powder receptacle, to avoid manual removal of the unused powder.

Additive manufacturing apparatus and system with vacuum assembly, and method of using the same

A laser deposition apparatus includes a sealed enclosure configured to hold a substrate, a powder source configured to hold a powder material, a peen source configured to hold a shot peen media, and a deposition system fluidly connected to the powder source and the peen source. The deposition system includes a laser configured to generate a laser beam. The deposition system is configured to deposit at least one layer on the substrate by injecting a stream of the powder material into the laser beam. The deposition system is configured to shot peen the at least one layer by propelling the shot peen media onto an exterior surface of the at least one layer.

Methods and apparatus for laser deposition

A method for manufacturing a component having a spatially graded property includes providing a first layer of particulate matter, the first layer having first material characteristics, and providing a second layer of particulate matter, the second layer having second material characteristics different from the first material characteristics. The method further includes providing an interlayer between the first layer and the second layer and heating the first layer, the second layer, and the interlayer to bond the first layer with the second layer.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Peter J Bocchini