Apparatus for laser materials processing

1. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:

pushing the material using a wiper into a laser processing area;

processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes; and

drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser beam.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes a housing, and the method takes place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the sealed chamber provides an inert gas atmosphere.

16. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including; a housing; a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:

processing the material using the laser beam; and

providing an inert gas atmosphere in a sealed chamber provided by the housing to prevent oxidation of the powder material during deposition.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the laser is within the sealed chamber.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the inert gas atmosphere is nitrogen.

19. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the apparatus includes a lifting table within the sealed chamber, the lifting table holding the material being processed.

20. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:

processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes;

drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device; and

moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

23. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

24. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

25. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

26. The method as recited in claim 25 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

27. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

28. The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

31. The method as recited in claim 30 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser beam.

32. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the apparatus includes a housing, and the method takes place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

33. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein the sealed chamber provides an inert gas atmosphere.

34. A method for operating an apparatus for laser materials processing, the apparatus including a housing, a laser for generating a laser beam; and a laser head movable along at least one spatial direction and connected to the laser via a light guide, the laser head emitting a laser beam capable of processing a material, wherein the laser head includes a suction device, the method comprising:

processing the material using the laser beam, the processing creating gas fumes;

drawing the gas fumes away using the suction device; and

moving a lifting table supporting the material being processed, the method taking place in a sealed chamber provided by the housing.

35. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the processing includes moving the laser head translationally along at least two independent spatial directions.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 wherein the laser head is translationally moved within or along a plane.

37. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the laser is a fiber laser.

38. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow parallel to the direction of the laser beam.

39. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the suction device creates a suction flow offset from the laser beam.

40. The method as recited in claim 39 wherein the suction flow is concentric with the laser beam.

41. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the apparatus further includes a temperature conditioning device.

42. The method as recited in claim 41 wherein the temperature conditioning device includes a heater.

43. The method as recited in claim 42 wherein the heater includes an induction coil.

44. The method as recited in claim 43 wherein the induction coil is disposed around the laser beam.

45. The method as recited in claim 44 wherein the induction coil is disposed concentrically around the laser beam.

46. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein the sealed chamber provides an inert gas atmosphere.