US 12,309,327 B2
Automated beam scan calibration, alignment, and adjustment
Scott Alan Gold, West Chester, OH (US); and Xiaolei Shi, Niskayuna, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/183,576.
Prior Publication US 2022/0272207 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 1/00 (2006.01); B22F 10/31 (2021.01); B23K 26/03 (2006.01); B23K 26/04 (2014.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); H04N 1/48 (2006.01); B23K 26/342 (2014.01)
CPC H04N 1/00018 (2013.01) [B22F 10/31 (2021.01); B23K 26/032 (2013.01); B23K 26/04 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); H04N 1/00769 (2013.01); H04N 1/488 (2013.01); B23K 26/342 (2015.10)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of calibrating a beam scan field of an additive manufacturing machine in which a radiant energy beam is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, the method comprising:
directing a radiant energy beam using a beam steering mechanism to create a calibration build job on a substrate, the calibration build job including at least one measurement artifact created by the radiant energy beam;
using a calibrated camera, collecting an image of the calibration build job;
generating a set of measurements of the calibration build job from the image;
comparing the measurements to a standard;
in response to any one of the measurements deviating from the standard by more than a predetermined acceptable tolerance, adjusting the beam steering mechanism; and
wherein the steps of directing, collecting, generating, comparing, and adjusting are carried out in response to automated commands from an electronic controller.