Patent ID: 9566665
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B23K,B23P

Claim:
1. A method of applying a laser metal formed build layer on a surface of an article, the method comprising the operations of determining a first distance between a laser deposition head and a first area of a surface included in an article to cause a first melt pool having a first melt-pool cooling rate to be provided, moving the laser deposition head including a light source and a nozzle relative to the article to establish the first distance, melting the first area using the light source of the laser deposition head to establish the first melt pool, and injecting powdered metal into the first area at a first flow rate using the nozzle, and solidifying the first melt pool, determining a second distance between the laser deposition head and a second area of the surface of the article that causes a second melt pool having the first melt-pool cooling rate moving the laser deposition head relative to the article to establish the second distance, melting the second area using the light source of the laser deposition head to establish the second melt pool, wherein the laser deposition head is moved from the first distance to the second distance in a continuous motion.