US 12,030,251 B2
Irradiation devices with optical modulators for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects
Mary Kathryn Thompson, Fairfield Township, OH (US); Joshua Tyler Mook, Loveland, OH (US); William Joseph Steele, Lawrenceburg, IN (US); David Scott Simmermon, Felicity, OH (US); and Michael Thomas Gansler, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/892,507.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/235,311, filed on Aug. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054516 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/277 (2017.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B22F 12/45 (2021.01); B28B 1/00 (2006.01); B28B 17/00 (2006.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/277 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B22F 12/45 (2021.01); B28B 1/001 (2013.01); B28B 17/0081 (2013.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); G02B 26/0833 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing device comprising an irradiation device for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the irradiation device comprising:
a beam generation device configured to provide an energy beam;
an optical modulator comprising a micromirror array disposed downstream from the beam generation device; and
a focusing lens assembly disposed downstream from the optical modulator and comprising a cylindrical lens and a microlens array; wherein the micromirror array comprises a plurality of micromirror elements configured to reflect a corresponding plurality of beam segments of the energy beam along a beam path incident upon the focusing lens assembly; and
wherein the focusing lens assembly is configured to focus the plurality of beam segments upon a build plane comprising a build array defining a plurality of build points such that for respective ones of a plurality of modulation groups comprising a subset of micromirror elements from among the plurality of micromirror elements, a corresponding subset of beam segments become incident upon a corresponding subset of build points from among the plurality of build points, and wherein with relative motion between the build plane and the plurality of beam segments, the corresponding subset of beam segments propagate incrementally across the build array such that the corresponding subset of build points receive irradiation sequentially from the corresponding subset of beam segments.