US 12,454,007 B2
Powder flow measurement in additive manufacturing systems
Scott Nelson, Indianapolis, IN (US); John Grubbs, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Quinlan Yee Shuck, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/932,959.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/247,571, filed on Sep. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0090298 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B22F 10/85 (2021.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); G05B 19/4099 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G05B 19/40 (2006.01)
CPC B22F 10/85 (2021.01) [B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); G05B 19/4099 (2013.01); G06T 7/0004 (2013.01); G05B 2219/49023 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30108 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
one or more computing devices configured to:
receive image data representing illuminated powder of a powder stream between a powder delivery device of an additive manufacturing system and a build surface of a component, wherein the additive manufacturing system is configured to simultaneously deliver energy to form a melt pool in the build surface and deliver the powder stream to the melt pool, and wherein the image data represents illuminated powder of the powder stream while the powder stream is delivered to the melt pool;
determine at least one metric associated with the powder stream based on the received image data;
determine whether the at least one metric indicates an abnormal state of the at least one metric; and
cause the additive manufacturing system to perform at least one action in response to the at least one metric indicating the abnormal state.