United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Robert A Hafley

Karen M Taminger

William Hudson Hofmeister

Joseph N Zalameda

Eric R Burke

Richard E Martin

Christopher S Domack

William J Seufzer

J Kevin Watson

Daniel D Petersen

Brian L Taminger

Theresa A Butler

A method of controlling operation of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during deposition of pools of molten matter onto a substrate to form beads upon solidification of the molten matter. The method includes providing a substrate and a wire source. A molten pool of liquid phase metal is formed on the substrate by melting the wire utilizing an electron beam generated by an electron beam gun. The liquid metal solidifies into a solid phase. A controller utilizes data from a sensor to adjust a process perimeter based, at least in part, on data generated by the sensor.

Process control of electron beam wire additive manufacturing

Systems and methods are provided for the real time inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using infrared thermography. Various embodiments may enable the measurement of material properties and the detection of defects during the additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable the characterization of deposition quality, as well as the detection of deposition defects, such as voids, cracks, disbonds, etc., as a structure is manufactured layer by layer in an additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable quantitative inspection images to be archived and associated with the manufactured structure to document the manufactured structure's structural integrity.

System and method for in-situ characterization and inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using transient infrared thermography

A method of controlling a height of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during an electron freeform fabrication process includes utilizing a camera to generate an image of the molten pool of material. The image generated by the camera is utilized to determine a measured height of the electron beam gun relative to the surface of the molten pool. The method further includes ensuring that the measured height is within the range of acceptable heights of the electron beam gun relative to the surface of the molten pool. The present invention also provides for measuring a height of a solid metal deposit formed upon cooling of a molten pool. The height of a single point can be measured, or a plurality of points can be measured to provide 2D or 3D surface height measurements.

Height control and deposition measurement for the electron beam free form fabrication (EBF3) process

A closed-loop control method for an electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF) process includes detecting a feature of interest during the process using a sensor(s), continuously evaluating the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein, and automatically modifying control parameters to control the EBFprocess. An apparatus provides closed-loop control method of the process, and includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, a wire feeder for feeding a wire toward a substrate, wherein the wire is melted and progressively deposited in layers onto the substrate, a sensor(s), and a host machine. The sensor(s) measure the feature of interest during the process, and the host machine continuously evaluates the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein. The host machine automatically modifies control parameters to the EBFapparatus to control the EBFprocess in a closed-loop manner.

Closed-loop process control for electron beam freeform fabrication and deposition processes

A method for controlling an electron beam process wherein a wire is melted and deposited on a substrate as a molten pool comprises generating the electron beam with a complex raster pattern, and directing the beam onto an outer surface of the wire to thereby control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool. Directing the beam selectively heats the outer surface of the wire and maintains the position of the wire with respect to the molten pool. An apparatus for controlling an electron beam process includes a beam gun adapted for generating the electron beam, and a controller adapted for providing the electron beam with a complex raster pattern and for directing the electron beam onto an outer surface of the wire to control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool.

Use of beam deflection to control an electron beam wire deposition process

An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object comprising a sealed container; an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container; a positioning subsystem contained within said container; a wire feed subsystem contained within said container; an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, and wire feed subsystem; and a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem.

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Yorktown, VA, United States of America

Robert A Hafley