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:
Oct. 23, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2000
Jyoti Mazumder, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Jyoti Mazumder, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
In a direct-metal deposition (DMD) process used to deposit successive layers in accordance with instructions from a CAD/CAM program, the laser beam, or an additional beam, is deployed as a localized heat treatment tool instead of a deposition tool. The use of laser energy during the process can minimize, if not eliminate, the periodic heat treatments now required for stress alleviation, thereby compressing the DMD fabrication cycle. In the preferred embodiment, every deposition run may be followed by a dry (i.e., without powder) run of one or more intensities to manipulate the stress magnitude and location. Since it is well known that residual stress is a function of cooling rate, a plurality of laser beams may alternatively be used to control the cooling rate of the deposited layer. Examples of stress reduction using H13 tool steel are provided.