The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2001
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., München, DE;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device and a process using a laser beam to scan an area of an object, in particular, for selective laser melting of metal powder for fabrication of a mold. The device is provided with a plotter mechanic with two linear axes ( ) over which a carrier element can be positioned and moved, an optical means, which guides the laser beam to the carrier element or provides the laser beam at the carrier element, a scanning means ( ) at the carrier element, which guides the laser beam to the area of the object and moves the laser beam back and forth in a presetable angle, a focusing optic ( ) for focusing the laser beam ( ) onto the area of the object ( ). The plotter mechanic is disposed in such a manner that the plotter mechanic can position and move the carrier element at a distance over the area of the object ( ), which distance permits the use of a focusing optic ( ) of short focal length for focusing said laser beam to a diameter of <200 &mgr;m in the area of the object ( ). This device combines the advantages of rapid movement of a focusing laser beam by using a scanner with the advantages of the size of the processing field being independent of the focal length of the focusing optic by using a plotter to move the beam.