IP Library Granted Patent US 12,649,187
Granted Patent B2
US 12,649,187 · App. 18/054,855 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Device for additive manufacturing of a workpiece

Inventors: Thomas Milde (Nausnitz, DE); Frank Widulle (Neu-Ulm, DE); Michael Totzeck (Schwaebisch Gmuend, DE); Christian Platt (Ulm, DE); Johann Irnstetter (Heidenheim an der Brenz, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
B22F12/90B22F10/366B22F10/85B22F12/30B22F12/45B22F12/50B33Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,649,187
App. No.
18/054,855
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for additive manufacturing of a workpiece includes a production platform supporting a defined material layer of particulate material, a structuring tool, an inspection sensor, a control unit, and a position encoder. The inspection sensor has a line scan camera and a line light source and is movable along a movement direction relative to the production platform. The position encoder generates a position signal representing a respective instantaneous position of the inspection sensor relative to the production platform. The control unit generates a spatially resolved image of the defined layer using the line light source, the line scan camera, and the position signal. The control unit controls the structuring tool in order to produce a defined workpiece layer by selectively solidifying particulate material of the defined material layer based on the image of the defined material layer and/or an image of a previously produced workpiece layer.

Claims (54)

1 . A device for additive manufacturing of a workpiece, the device comprising:

a production platform configured to support a defined material layer of particulate material;

a structuring tool configured to selectively solidify particulate material of the defined material layer supported on the production platform in order to produce a defined workpiece layer;

an inspection sensor configured to inspect a target layer that includes at least one of the defined material layer or the defined workpiece layer;

an evaluation and control unit including an interface configured to obtain a data set defining the workpiece in a plurality of successive workpiece layers one on top of another; and

a position encoder, wherein:

the evaluation and control unit is configured to control the structuring tool depending on the data set in order to produce the plurality of successive workpiece layers one on top of another from the particulate material,

the inspection sensor is movable along a movement direction relative to the production platform,

the inspection sensor includes (i) a multi-line scan camera having a plurality of adjacent camera elements along the movement direction, and (ii) a line light source,

the multi-line scan camera and the line light source each extend transversely with respect to the movement direction,

the inspection sensor is coupled to the position encoder such that the position encoder generates a position signal representing a respective instantaneous position of the inspection sensor relative to the production platform,

the evaluation and control unit is configured to generate a spatially resolved image of the target layer using the line light source, the multi-line scan camera, and the position signal, and

the evaluation and control unit is configured to control the structuring tool depending on the spatially resolved image.

2 . The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a layer forming tool configured to form the defined material layer of the particulate material on the production platform,

wherein the layer forming tool is movable relative to the production platform along the movement direction.

3 . The device of claim 2 wherein the inspection sensor is coupled to the layer forming tool.

4 . The device of claim 2 wherein:

the layer forming tool includes a material outlet configured to selectively discharge particulate material,

the multi-line scan camera is arranged upstream of the material outlet in the movement direction,

the inspection sensor includes a second line scan camera, and

the second line scan camera is arranged downstream of the material outlet in the movement direction.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein:

the line light source includes a plurality of light elements, and

the evaluation and control unit is configured to selectively activate or deactivate the plurality of light elements so as to generate an illumination of the target layer from varying directions.

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein:

the line light source is arranged upstream of the multi-line scan camera in the movement direction,

the inspection sensor includes a second line light source, and

the second line light source is arranged downstream of the multi-line scan camera in the movement direction.

7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the line light source has a plurality of light elements producing a plurality of different light colors.

8 . A device for additive manufacturing of a workpiece, the device comprising:

a production platform configured to support a defined material layer of particulate material;

a structuring tool configured to selectively solidify particulate material of the defined material layer supported on the production platform in order to produce a defined workpiece layer;

an inspection sensor configured to inspect a target layer that includes at least one of the defined material layer or the defined workpiece layer;

an evaluation and control unit including an interface configured to obtain a data set defining the workpiece in a plurality of successive workpiece layers one on top of another; and

a position encoder, wherein:

the evaluation and control unit is configured to control the structuring tool depending on the data set in order to produce the plurality of successive workpiece layers one on top of another from the particulate material,

the inspection sensor is movable along a movement direction relative to the production platform,

the inspection sensor includes a first line scan camera, a second line scan camera, and a line light source,

the first line scan camera, the second line scan camera, and the line light source each extend transversely with respect to the movement direction,

the inspection sensor is coupled to the position encoder such that the position encoder generates a position signal representing a respective instantaneous position of the inspection sensor relative to the production platform,

the evaluation and control unit is configured to generate a spatially resolved image of the target layer using the line light source, the first line scan camera, the second line scan camera, and the position signal,

the evaluation and control unit is configured to control the structuring tool depending on the spatially resolved image,

the first line scan camera has a first optical axis running orthogonally with respect to the defined material layer, and

the second line scan camera has a second optical axis running obliquely with respect to the defined material layer.

9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the first line scan camera and the second line scan camera are arranged such that the first optical axis and the second optical axis intersect at the defined material layer.

10 . The device of claim 8 wherein the first line scan camera is configured to generate a thermal line scan image of the target layer.

11 . The device of claim 8 wherein the evaluation and control unit is configured to correlate with one another a first image captured by the first line scan camera and a second image captured by the second line scan camera.

12 . The device of claim 1 wherein the line light source is oriented obliquely with respect to the target layer.

13 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a light pattern generator arranged above the production platform and configured to generate a defined light pattern on the target layer.

14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the evaluation and control unit is configured to synchronously record a plurality of spatially resolved images of the target layer using the plurality of adjacent camera elements in the movement direction and the position signal during a movement of the inspection sensor, thereby capturing transient signals in the target layer.

15 . The device of claim 7 wherein:

the plurality of adjacent camera elements in the movement direction each are sensitive to one of the plurality of different light colors, and

the evaluation and control unit is configured to differentiate an angle-selective illumination from the plurality of light elements based on the plurality of different light colors.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2023
From: PLATT, CHRISTIAN, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064790/0164 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: TOTZECK, MICHAEL, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064664/0856 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: WIDULLE, FRANK, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064665/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: MILDE, THOMAS, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064665/0094 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: IRNSTETTER, JOHANN
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064665/0198 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: CARL ZEISS AG
To: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
Reel/Frame 064665/0312 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2023
From: PLATT, CHRISTIAN, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064665/0141 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2023
From: WIDULLE, FRANK, DR.
To: CARL ZEISS AG
Reel/Frame 064641/0900 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2020063010 · May 11, 2020
Related Publication 20230070819A1 · Mar 9, 2023
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