US 12,121,971 B2
Real-time molten droplet analyzer with spatial modulation in additive manufacturing
Qiushu Chen, San Bruno, CA (US); Peter Kiesel, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Dogan Timucin, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/984,124.
Prior Publication US 2024/0149354 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B22D 23/00 (2006.01); B22F 10/22 (2021.01); B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); G01J 5/00 (2022.01); H04N 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B22F 12/90 (2021.01) [B22D 23/003 (2013.01); B22F 10/22 (2021.01); B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); G01J 5/0037 (2013.01); H04N 1/00015 (2013.01); H04N 1/00029 (2013.01); H04N 1/00039 (2013.01); H04N 1/00068 (2013.01); H04N 1/00082 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (3D) printer, comprising:
an ejector configured to release molten droplets along a jetting path from the ejector to a build platform;
an optical sensor positioned adjacent to the jetting path and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to light emanating from the molten droplets;
an optical mask positioned adjacent to the jetting path wherein the optical mask comprises a plurality of regions comprising light-blocking regions and light-passing regions configured to modulate the electrical signal generated by the optical sensor as the molten droplets travel along the jetting path;
one or more processing devices to:
receive the electrical signal from the optical sensor;
process the electrical signal to identify one or more characteristics of the molten droplets, wherein the one or more characteristics comprise an estimated temperature of the molten droplets; and
control the 3D printer based on the one or more characteristics.