Method and device for scanning the surface of an object with a laser beam

US6534740B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Meiners · Aachen, DE
• Konrad Wissenbach · Würselen, DE
• Andres Gasser · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 8, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 18, 2003
• Expiry date: Feb 8, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

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 (4, 5) 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 (9) 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 (15) for focusing the laser beam (8) onto the area of the object (11). 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 (11), which distance permits the use of a focusing optic (15) of short focal length for focusing said laser beam to a diameter of <200 &mgr;m in the area of the object (11). 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 …