Abstract:
A method of additive manufacturing of an object includes directing laser energy from a laser to a region for material deposition, extruding material using an extruder at the region of material deposition, sensing temperature within the region of the material deposition, and electronically controlling the laser energy using the temperature so as to sufficiently heat the region for material deposition prior to extruding the material to increase strength of the object.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/354,992, filed on Jun. 27, 2016, and entitled “Selective Laser Sintered Fused Deposition Printing”, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to 3D printing of single or multi-materials using combined selective laser sintering and fused deposition of materials. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Selective Laser Sintered (SLS) is typically done using a powder bed and a laser at a set power and spot size which sinters plastic or metal powder. Fused Deposition Printing (FDP) is also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). FFF has a specific trademark of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and this is common language in the 3D printing world. FFF uses a filament, and while FDP is identical in many ways to FFF, it may not require a filament as the material feed. FDP can use filament, pellets or powder. These three use heated nozzles that melts thermoplastic material and forces it through a small orifice. The first layer of printing is important and if good adhesion is not achieved, the print will curl and the next layer will not adhere. To accommodate this, a heated bed or a glue base is used to capture the first layer. A heated bed helps the second layer adhere to the first layer and this continues to many layers. If the structure is too large, the top layers are much hotter than the cooled layers below and this will cause the object to delaminate. 
         [0004]    SLS uses a powder bed and the laser has a given spot size that will provide localized heat that sinters the spot size region. Scanning or patterning is done in two dimensions. Once the pattern is complete a thin layer of thermoplastic has been fused or sintered to make a single piece. The single layer or pattern is lowered and a second layer of powder covers the first layer. The laser patterns again, fusing the localized spots deep enough to fuse to the first layer. This is done as many times as needed to build the object. SLS objects have good strength properties in all dimensions and does not suffer the same delamination issues due to the printed layers. 
         [0005]    What is needed are new methods, systems, and apparatus that provide for improving over SLS and FDP processes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to another aspect, a method of additive manufacturing of an object includes directing laser energy from a laser to a region for material deposition, extruding material using an extruder at the region of material deposition, sensing temperature within the region of the material deposition, and electronically controlling the laser energy using the temperature so as to sufficiently heat the region for material deposition prior to extruding the material to increase strength of the object. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect, a system for additive manufacturing includes an extruder for extruding a material onto a surface, a laser for directing laser energy onto the surface, a heat detector for sensing temperature at the surface, and a control system operatively connected to the extruder, the heat detector, and the laser. The control system is configured to control the directing of the laser energy onto the surface based on the temperature at the surface sensed using the heat detector to heat a region of the surface prior to extruding the material onto the surface. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect, a method of additive manufacturing of an object is provided. The method includes directing laser or LED energy in a region of material deposition as an ultraviolet (UV) curing light source, and controlling the laser power in a closed loop feedback from temperature sensing in the deposition region. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect, a method of combining Selective Laser Sintering and Fused Deposition Printing in a single process includes extruding material using a Fused Deposition Printing approach, directing laser energy in a region of material deposition, and electronically controlling the laser power in a closed loop feedback from temperature sensing in the deposition region. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect, a method of using a laser to prepare a surface for Fused Deposition Printing includes directing laser energy from a laser to a region of material deposition, with the laser energy being either pulsed or continuous wave, texturing the surface using the laser energy, and extruding material on the surface of the textured area using Fused Deposition Printing or other Direct Print methods. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect, a method of using a laser to remove and replace defective material as a repair process includes directing laser energy in a region of material for removal, directing laser energy in a region of material deposition (the laser energy being pulsed or continuous wave), and extruding material onto the surface to repair. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect, a method includes using a laser or a mill to smooth a defective area and then using a laser and temperature feedback to restart or continue a printing process. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the system. The block diagram shows a print head, a laser source, a detection source, an XYZ motion and a controller that integrates these for synchronous motion and control. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the printer with the laser and thermal detector pointing at a common point on an XYZ stage. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a system including a ring of fibers which includes both laser emitters and light detection for heat sensing. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a ring of fibers which may be positioned around a pen tip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is another diagram showing a ring of fibers around a pen tip of a nozzle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of two layers being fused together in XY plane. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of multiple layers prior to being fused together in the YZ plane. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of multiple layers after being fused together in the YZ plane. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of a surface being pitted. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of the surface being printed on after the pitting to promote better adhesion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Combining SLS and FDP allows solid lines or patterns to be printed using FDP in 2 dimensions. Any place a line is printed and a second line is joined to the first line in 2 dimensions there is still a weak point that can delaminate. Joining these two lines using a laser to melt or weld the seam provides strength. This can be done in real time using a focused temperature feedback reader such as a bolometer and a laser. The temperature can be accurately controlled and this provides perfect melded seams. The second layered pattern which is similar to fusing two lines that are in an XY plane touching each other, but this is two lines in the XZ or YZ plane and still touching each other. The laser is utilized and will lead the print therefore making a thin liquid level for the new material to be printed in. This will unite the layers as a single material and reduce or eliminate the delamination issue. 
         [0025]    This approach will eliminate the need to print on heated beds. The laser will heat a plastic or metal surface and this will promote adhesion. For plastic surfaces, the laser will provide a small melt zone and the printed layer will then be melt to melt. For metal layers the mismatch in material types will challenge adhesion. To accommodate this, the laser may be put in pulsed mode and tiny micro-pits will be made in the same pattern as the pattern to be printed. The print will begin and the laser will heat the metal thus allowing the melted thermoplastic to pool in the micro-pits. When this cools, a small amount of shrinkage will occur and pull the plastic tight into the pits and adhesion will occur. It is possible with this approach to print on any existing object or to begin a print and stop. Take out the printed object and then put it back for immediate continued printing. 
         [0026]    The present invention recognizes the need for enhancing 3D printed objects. The combination of SLS and FDP on a single platform and controlled by one controller for synchronous and consistent results is obtained by strategically placing fibers for the laser and the detection near the pen tip. In some cases the detector cannot be fiber fed and may need to be in proximity to the pen tip. Small micro-lenses may be printed on the fiber ends to provide focusing of the laser. The number of lasers can range from one (1) to a continuous ring of lasers or tens (10s) to hundreds (100s) of fibers. The optimal number will depend on the specific application, but eight (8) allows for a symmetrical number of laser spots that would encircle the pen tip. This allows for the material to be heated from several angles. 
         [0027]    The laser being coupled into the fiber may be a range of lasers, but a diode laser is efficient, compact, rugged and cost effective. The diode may be coupled into the laser at a distance set by the length of the fiber optic cables. These are very low loss, so meters are essentially lossless. Depending on the power requirement this may be one (1) laser per fiber or one (1) laser and a galvo that moves the laser to a chosen fiber. 
         [0028]    The heat detector may be a non-contact detector and a common detector for this is a bolometer although other types of heat detectors may be used. A bolometer may provide a good resolution that matches the size of the prints and the laser spots coming from the fiber optic cable. The bolometer provides fast thermal readings. These readings are put in a closed loop feedback system that controls the laser power output. The laser power output can range from milliwatts to tens (10s) or hundreds (100s) of watts of power and this is near instantaneous. This changes the temperature on the spot in near instantons times matching the feedback for controlling the temperature of the spot. 
         [0029]    The spot size may range from single digit microns to millimeters. In some cases it may be necessary to make the spot size tens (10s) or even hundreds (100s) of millimeters. The spot size may match or nearly match the size of the print from the pen tip. The laser may heat a localized area instantaneously to allow the newly printed material that is extruded from the pen tip to match temperatures. The extruded material from the pen tip may range from room temperature to hundreds (100s) of degrees Celsius. The temperature requirement depends on the material being extruded through the pen tip. Any number of different materials may be used. The material being extruded may reach a melt temperature and reach a liquid state or near liquid state. The material exits the hot pen tip and quickly cools, since the volume of the liquid is small as compared to the surface area. This is a localized process and the laser is also a localized process. The localized process will traverse in a specified direction at a specified speed. The direction can be any direction in an XYZ coordinate system. The speed can vary from very slow, such as less than one (1) mm per second to more than one (1) meter per second. Typical speeds are in the range of tens (10s) to hundreds (100s) of millimeters per second. The laser may heat at linear speeds that match the print speeds. This creates a match of localized temperature of a substrate or of one layer to the next layer and therefore fusing more completely the layers. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a system  10 . A control system  12  is shown which may be used to control an XYZ stage or other stage. The control system  12  is operatively connected to a microcontroller  18  or other intelligent control and a thermoplastic extruder  22 . The thermoplastic extruder  22  provides for extruding or printing molten plastic onto a surface  24 . The microcontroller  18  receives temperature information from a heat detector such as a thermal imaging detector or bolometer  16 . The microcontroller then controls a laser  20  to emit laser energy to the surface  24 . The laser may use a laser diode or other type of laser. The laser energy may be pulsed or may be continuous. 
         [0031]    In operation, the heat detector such as bolometer  16  may measure infrared, or heat radiation including a spot temperature on the surface  24 . The temperature data may then be communicated to the microcontroller  18 . The microcontroller  18  may then control the laser  20  based on the temperature data so as to stop heating the surface  24  or to continue heating the surface  24  with laser energy. This heating is performed on a region of the surface prior to extruding molten plastic by the thermoplastic extruder  22  in order to prepare the surface. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates one example of portions of the thermoplastic extruder  22  of a 3D printer. A nozzle  30  is shown with a tip  32 . Both a laser  16  and a thermal detector  20  point at a common point on an XYZ stage  33 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates another diagram of a system. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a control  12  is operatively connected to a microcontroller  18 . The microcontroller  18  may provide a current signal to control a laser  20 . The laser  20  emits laser energy to a surface  24  to heat the surface. A heat detector such as a thermal imaging detector or bolometer  16  may be used to determine surface temperature of the surface  24 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates another example where there are a plurality of heat detectors or thermal imaging detectors or bolometers  16  and a plurality lasers  20  which may be configured in a ring around the thermoplastic extruder  22 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is another view where there is a ring of bolometers and lasers configured in a ring around a nozzle  30  having a tip  32 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fibers  60  for the laser and fibers  62  for the heat detector(s) may be used. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is another view of a ring of fibers with detectors  60  such as bolometers and fibers with lasers  62  configured in a ring around a nozzle  30 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates interaction between a laser beam  52  and a surface  24 . The laser beam  52  travels in a direction  68  and heats the surface  24  to form a melt pool  72  along a seam  70  which allows for a welded seam  74  to be formed. Thus, The two layers are then fused together in the XY plane. 
         [0038]    In addition to its use in welding seams, the laser beam  52  provides other uses. For example, a control system may determine that a region of material deposition has a defective area. Thus, instead of continuing with the build process, the laser may return to the region which has the defective area and the defective area may be reheated with the laser to provide for smoothing of the defective area. Alternatively, the defective area may be milled or otherwise processed. Thus, deposited material may be removed. 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  illustrates a surface  24  before welding where seams  70  are present and in the YZ plane.  FIG. 9  illustrates the surface  24  after welding where the seams have been welded to form welded seams  74  and in the YZ plane. The method described allows for the strength of the object being 3D printed to be increased by reducing susceptibility of delamination of layers of the object due to the improved adhesion. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates a surface  24  where a laser beam  52  has made a plurality of micro pits  50  in the surface  24  to produce a pitted surface. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates the surface  24  with micro pints  50  where material  76  from a nozzle  30  is dispensed or written or otherwise extruded on the surface  24  and fills in micro pits  50  as it is extruded. This pitting of the surface  24  with the laser followed by the printing assists in promoting adhesion between the layer being printed and the previous layers. It should be appreciated that the laser may be used to texture the surface or otherwise prepare the surface in any number of ways to assist in promoting adhesion. 
         [0042]    Therefore, various methods, systems, and apparatus have been shown and described for additive manufacturing. Although specific embodiments have been provided herein, the present invention contemplates numerous additions, variations, options, and alternatives.