Additive manufacturing device

Abstract

To provide a technique allowing for desirably changing a cross-sectional shape of a molding object.SOLUTION: A laminate molding apparatus for molding a molding object by laminating a raw material, comprises: a laser light source that emits a laser beam; a laser beam dividing unit that emits the laser beam by dividing it into a plurality of divided laser beams; a laser beam refracting unit that refracts each of the divided laser beams into directions approaching each other and emits them; a stage that is to be illuminated with divided laser beams passed through the laser beam refracting unit; a raw-material supply unit that supplies a raw material toward the stage; and a distance adjusting unit that can adjust a distance between the laser beam refracting unit and the stage. The distance adjusting unit can adjust a distance to either of a first distance when the number of processing points as positions where the raw materials are laminated on an upper side of the stage becomes one, and a second distance when the number of processing points on the upper side of the stage becomes plural.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminated manufacturing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a laminated manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a shaped object by laminating raw materials has been known. In a method of manufacturing a shaped object using a laminated manufacturing apparatus, there are cases where a shaped object is formed by laminating raw materials melted by irradiating laser light. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming a wire by laminating raw materials melted by condensing a plurality of laser lights on the raw materials using a condenser lens. Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming a linear wire extending vertically upward by irradiating blue laser light, which has a high absorption rate in copper, onto falling copper powder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in any of the above prior arts, the cross-sectional shape of the wire, which is the shaped object, was uniform. Therefore, depending on the demands of the user of the laminated manufacturing apparatus, a technique that can arbitrarily change the cross-sectional shape of the shaped object has been desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that allows for arbitrary modification of the cross-sectional shape of a fabricated object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and can be realized in the following forms.

[0008] (1) According to one embodiment of the present invention, an additive manufacturing apparatus is provided for manufacturing an object by stacking raw materials. This additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a laser light source that emits laser light, a laser light splitting unit that splits the laser light into a plurality of split laser beams and emits them, a laser light refraction unit that refracts each of the split laser beams toward each other and emits them, a stage to which the split laser beams that have passed through the laser light refraction unit are irradiated, a raw material supply unit that supplies the raw material toward the stage, and a distance adjustment unit that can adjust the distance between the laser light refraction unit and the stage, wherein the distance adjustment unit can adjust the distance to either a first distance when there is one processing point on the upper side of the stage where the raw material is stacked, or a second distance when there are multiple processing points on the upper side of the stage.

[0009] This configuration allows for the fabrication of a number of wires corresponding to the number of processing points, which varies depending on the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage. Specifically, when the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage is the first distance, there is one processing point, and therefore one wire can be fabricated. On the other hand, when the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage is the second distance, there are multiple processing points, and therefore multiple wires can be fabricated simultaneously. Furthermore, when the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage is changed from the first distance to the second distance, or from the second distance to the first distance, during the fabrication process, the number of processing points increases or decreases, allowing for the fabrication of a single wire section and branched sections that branch off from that single wire section. Therefore, this configuration allows for the arbitrary modification of the cross-sectional shape of the fabricated object by adjusting the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage.

[0010] (2) In the additive manufacturing apparatus of the above embodiment, the laser beam splitting unit may include a laser beam conversion unit that emits two split laser beams and is positioned between the laser beam splitting unit and the laser beam refraction unit, which converts the cross-sectional shape of the split laser beams into a rectangular shape before emitting them. This configuration allows for the fabrication of objects consisting of wires with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, by adjusting the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage within a first distance range, the aspect ratio of the rectangular cross-section of the fabricated wire can be varied. Additionally, when the distance between the laser beam refractor and the stage is a second distance, multiple wires corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the segmented laser beams emitted from the laser beam refractor can be fabricated simultaneously.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, as an additive manufacturing apparatus, a three-dimensional manufacturing apparatus, a coil manufacturing apparatus, a laser processing head, a laser processing apparatus, an additive manufacturing method, a three-dimensional manufacturing method, a coil manufacturing method, a laser processing method, and a system comprising these apparatuses or implementing such methods, a computer program for executing these apparatuses or methods, a server device for distributing the computer program, a non-temporary storage medium storing the computer program, and so on. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram of an additive manufacturing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of various prisms and lenses. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing laser light and metal powder. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the distance between the focusing lens and the stage and the processing point. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing an object fabricated using an additive manufacturing device. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram showing an object fabricated using an additive manufacturing device. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram showing an object fabricated using an additive manufacturing device. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram showing an object fabricated using an additive manufacturing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] <Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a layered manufacturing apparatus 100 as an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the XYZ axes constituting a rectangular coordinate system CS are illustrated. The Z-axis corresponds to the vertical direction, and the X-axis and the Y-axis correspond to the directions orthogonal to the Z-axis. These XYZ axes are common to each of the figures after FIG. 1. The layered manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 melts the metal powder MP, which is a raw material sprayed from a supply nozzle 45 (described in FIG. 2) to be described later, by irradiating the metal powder MP with a split laser beam LS, and stacks the melted metal powder MP on the upper side of a stage 50 to form a shaped object (for example, a coil).

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the layered manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 10, a laser light source 20, a powder supply device 30, a laser processing head 40, a stage 50, and a coil information database (coil information DB) 60.

[0015] The laser light source 20 and the powder supply device 30 are connected to the laser processing head 40. The laser light source 20 emits a laser beam LB toward the inside of the laser processing head 40. The laser beam LB may be any laser as long as it can heat the metal powder MP, such as a fiber laser, a solid-state laser, or a semiconductor laser. The powder supply device 30 supplies the metal powder MP to a supply nozzle 45 (described in FIG. 2) disposed inside the laser processing head 40. The laser processing head 40 converts the laser beam LB emitted from the laser light source 20 into a split laser beam LS and emits it toward the stage 50. The stage 50 is a stage whose position and orientation can be changed. Specifically, the stage 50 is a stage whose position can be changed along each of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in FIG. 1, and whose orientation can be changed by rotating around the Z-axis and the Y-axis. The stage 50 may be such that the X-axis can rotate instead of the Y-axis, or each of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis can rotate.

[0016] The coil information DB60 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like. The coil information DB60 stores three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) data of various coils as the objects to be fabricated by the additive manufacturing apparatus 100.

[0017] The control unit 10 is composed of a personal computer. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) of the control unit 10 expands and executes the computer program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) in the RAM (Random Access Memory), and functions as an acquisition unit 11, a laser control unit 12, a supply control unit 13, and a stage control unit 14 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] The acquisition unit 11 acquires three-dimensional data of the coil as the object to be fabricated by the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. The laser control unit 12 controls the output of the laser beam LB incident from the laser light source 20 to the laser processing head 40 by controlling the laser light source 20 according to the acquired three-dimensional CAD data of the coil. The supply control unit 13 controls the amount of the metal powder MP supplied from the powder supply apparatus 30 to the supply nozzle 45 (described in FIG. 2) in the laser processing head 40 by controlling the powder supply apparatus 30 according to the acquired three-dimensional CAD data of the coil. The stage control unit 14 controls the position and orientation of the stage 50 according to the acquired three-dimensional CAD data of the coil. Further, regarding the position of the stage 50, the stage control unit 14 can also be said to be a distance adjustment unit capable of adjusting the distance between the condenser lens 44 (described in FIG. 2) and the stage 50. The fabricated object MO and the processing point PP shown in FIG. 1 will be described later.

[0019] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of various prisms and lenses within the laser processing head 40. Figure 2 shows schematic cross-sectional views of the various prisms and lenses arranged along the optical axis OL of the laser beam LB. To the left of the schematic cross-sectional views of the various prisms and lenses, schematic diagrams of the cross-sectional shapes of each laser beam that has passed through the various prisms and lenses are shown.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the laser processing head 40 includes a first prism 41, a second prism 42, a DOE 43, and a focusing lens 44, which are arranged in order from the +Z axis side along the optical axis OL of the laser beam LB incident from the laser light source 20. The laser processing head 40 also includes a supply nozzle 45 arranged along the optical axis OL. The first prism 41, the second prism 42, the DOE 43, the focusing lens 44, and the supply nozzle 45 are arranged so that their central axes coincide with the optical axis OL.

[0021] Of the first prism 41, second prism 42, DOE 43, and focusing lens 44 arranged inside the laser processing head 40, the first prism 41 is positioned furthest towards the +Z axis. The first prism 41 is a polyhedral prism with multiple bevels on the positive Z-axis side into which the laser beam LB is incident. The first prism 41 converts the laser beam LB incident from the laser light source 20 into segmented laser beams SL, which are divided symmetrically with respect to the XZ plane, and then emits them towards the -Z axis. The second prism 42 is positioned between the first prism 41 and the DOE 43. The second prism 42 is a polyhedral prism with multiple bevels on the negative Z-axis side into which the segmented laser beams SL are incident. The second prism 42 converts the segmented laser beams SL incident from the first prism 41 so that they are parallel to the optical axis OL, and then emits them towards the -Z axis. In this embodiment, the first prism 41 has two bevels on the + side in the Z-axis direction, and the second prism 42 has two bevels on the - side in the Z-axis direction. As the laser beam LB passes through the first prism 41, it is converted into two split laser beams SL. These two split laser beams SL are then converted to be parallel to the optical axis OL as they pass through the second prism 42, and are emitted from the -Z-axis side of the second prism 42. In other words, in this embodiment, the first prism 41 and the second prism 42 correspond to laser beam splitting units that split the laser beam LB into multiple split laser beams and emit them.

[0022] The DOE (diffractive optical element) 43 is positioned between the second prism 42 and the focusing lens 44. The DOE 43 is a laser light conversion unit that converts the cross-sectional shape of the segmented laser beam SL into a rectangular shape and emits it on the side in the -Z axis direction. The focusing lens 44 is a laser light refraction unit that refracts each of the incident segmented laser beams SL toward each other and emits them. The segmented laser beam LS emitted from the focusing lens 44 (corresponding to the segmented laser beam SL that has passed through the focusing lens 44) is emitted in a direction toward the optical axis OL. Since the stage 50 is positioned on the -Z axis side of the laser processing head 40 (focusing lens 44), the stage 50 is irradiated with the segmented laser beam SL (corresponding to the segmented laser beam LS) that has passed through the focusing lens 44. In this manner, the laser processing head 40 converts the laser beam LB into segmented laser beams LS via the first prism 41, the second prism 42, the DOE 43, and the focusing lens 44, and then emits the segmented laser beams LS to the stage 50 (see Figure 1). If the distance between the first prism 41 and the second prism 42 in the laser processing head 40 is variable, the spacing between the segmented laser beams LS at the time of emission from the focusing lens 44 can be adjusted by adjusting this distance.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, a through-hole HL is formed in the central part of the focusing lens 44, passing through the focusing lens 44 along the optical axis OL. The supply nozzle 45 is positioned to pass inside the through-hole HL. The supply nozzle 45 is a hollow tube extending along the optical axis OL. In Figure 2, part of the supply nozzle 45 is omitted from the illustration, but the part of the supply nozzle 45 on the +Z axis side is connected to the powder supply device 30. The supply nozzle 45 sprays metal powder MP supplied from the powder supply device 30, which is located outside the laser processing head 40, toward the stage 50. The supply nozzle 45 can also be described as a raw material supply unit that supplies the raw material, metal powder MP, toward the stage 50.

[0024] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the segmented laser beam LS emitted toward the stage 50 and the metal powder MP sprayed toward the stage 50. Figure 3 shows a state in which the position of the surface 50F of the stage 50 facing the +Z axis direction and the focal point FP coincide in the Z axis direction. As shown in Figure 3, the metal powder MP is sprayed toward the stage 50 by being sprayed toward the focal point FP from the supply nozzle 45. Each of the segmented laser beams LS (in this embodiment there are two segmented laser beams LS) emitted from the laser processing head 40 overlaps at the focal point FP. Furthermore, the distance between the segmented laser beams LS in the XY plane increases as you move away from the focal point FP, either toward the +Z axis direction or the -Z axis direction.

[0025] The metal powder MP is heated by approaching or overlapping with the segmented laser beam LS. The heated and melted metal powder MP can be used to form coils and other objects because it solidifies as its temperature decreases after being layered in a molten state. The metal powder MP is sprayed from the supply nozzle 45 so that it approaches the segmented laser beam LS to the extent that it melts above the +Z axis (at a position where the distance between the segmented laser beams LS is greater) before reaching the focal point FP. In other words, the spray angle of the supply nozzle 45 (the angle of spread of the powder spray ejected from the nozzle of the supply nozzle 45) is set to an angle that allows the metal powder MP to approach the segmented laser beam LS before reaching the focal point FP.

[0026] The object MO shown in Figure 1 is an object in the process of being fabricated by layering molten metal powder MP. The processing point PP shown in Figure 1 is the position on the upper side (+Z axis side) of the stage 50 where the molten metal powder MP is layered. The processing point PP is located on the surface 50F of the stage 50 when the object MO does not exist (start of fabrication), and is located on the leading edge of the object MO when the object MO exists (see Figure 1). The object MO is stretched as the molten metal powder MP is sequentially layered at the processing point PP. At this time, the layering direction of the metal powder MP layered at the processing point PP can be changed by appropriately controlling the position and orientation of the stage 50. In other words, the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 can fabricate objects MO of any three-dimensional shape by appropriately controlling the position and orientation of the stage 50.

[0027] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 and the processing point PP. Figure 4 shows the laser cross-sectional shapes CS1 to CS5 of the divided laser beam LS, which change depending on the distance from the focusing point FP. The upper part of Figure 4 corresponds to the +Z axis direction, and the lower part of Figure 4 corresponds to the -Z axis direction. As shown in Figure 4, near the focusing point FP, the cross-sections of the divided laser beam LS overlap each other, forming a single rectangular shape (exemplified in Figure 4 as laser cross-sectional shapes CS1 to CS3). That is, when metal powder MP is deposited on the tip of the fabricated object MO, and the tip of the fabricated object MO is near the focusing point FP in the Z axis direction, there is one processing point PP. Thus, the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 at which there is one processing point PP is defined as the first distance L1. When the first distance L1 is reached, there is only one processing point PP at the tip of the fabricated object MO. Therefore, a new wire is extended from the tip of the fabricated object MO, and the cross-sectional shape of the extended wire is rectangular, similar to the cross-sectional shape of the segmented laser beam LS at the processing point PP. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the segmented laser beam LS at the processing point PP varies depending on the distance between the tip of the fabricated object MO and the focusing point FP within the range of the first distance L1, as shown in the laser cross-sectional shapes CS1-3 in Figure 4. This allows for variations in the aspect ratio of the rectangular cross-section of the wire newly extended from the tip of the fabricated object MO. The aforementioned cross-section refers to the cross-section of the fabricated object MO when it is cut in a plane along the direction perpendicular to the extension direction in which the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 extends the fabricated object MO by stacking metal powder MP.

[0028] On the other hand, at a position sufficiently far from the focal point FP in either the +Z axis direction or the -Z axis direction, the cross-sections of the two split laser beams LS do not overlap (for example, as shown in the laser cross-sectional shapes CS4 and CS5 in Figure 4). That is, when metal powder MP is deposited on the tip of the fabricated object MO, if the tip of the fabricated object MO is sufficiently far from the focal point FP in the Z axis direction, there are two processing points PP. Thus, the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 at which there are two processing points PP is defined as the second distance L2. When the second distance L2 is reached, there are two processing points PP at the tip of the fabricated object MO, so two new wires corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the split laser beams LS are extended from the tip of the fabricated object MO. However, within the range of the second distance L2, the greater the distance between the tip of the fabricated object MO and the focal point FP, the greater the distance between the two new wires extended from the tip of the fabricated object MO. The stage control unit 14, which is the distance adjustment unit, can adjust the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 to either the first distance L1 or the second distance L2. Since the position of the tip of the printed object MO changes each time as the tip of the printed object MO extends, when extending the tip of the printed object MO while maintaining the first distance L1 or the second distance L2, the stage control unit 14 adjusts the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 in accordance with the change to maintain the first distance L1 or the second distance L2. For example, when extending the tip of the printed object MO along the Z-axis while maintaining the state in which the tip of the printed object MO is aligned with the focusing point FP (while maintaining the first distance L1), the stage control unit 14 moves the position of the stage 50 toward the -Z-axis side as the tip of the printed object MO extends.

[0029] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an object F1 fabricated using the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. The object F1 is a wire, and is a finished product of an object fabricated by layering molten metal powder MP. The object F1 is fabricated by being stretched along the Z-axis on the upper side of the stage 50. Overall, the object F1 is a fabricated object that has been stretched with the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 being the first distance L1 (one processing point PP).

[0030] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an object F2 fabricated using the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. Similar to the object F1 in Figure 5, object F2 is an object fabricated by being stretched along the Z-axis direction on the upper side of the stage 50. Overall, object F2 is an object that has been stretched with the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 being the second distance L2 (two processing points PP).

[0031] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an object F3 fabricated using the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. Similar to objects F1 and F2 in Figures 5 and 6, object F3 is fabricated by being stretched along the Z-axis direction on the upper side of the stage 50. The portion F3a of object F3 on the -Z-axis side is the portion that was stretched when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 was the first distance L1 (one processing point PP). The portion F3b of object F3 on the +Z-axis side is the portion that was stretched when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 was the second distance L2 (two processing points PP).

[0032] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an object F4 manufactured using the additive manufacturing apparatus 100. While objects F1 to F3 described in Figures 5 to 7 were stretched along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), object F4 is a object that was created by stretching along the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) above the stage 50. The portion F4a on the +X-axis side and the portion F4c on the -X-axis side of object F4 are portions that were stretched at a second distance L2 (two processing points PP). The central portion F4b in the X-axis direction of object F4 is a portion that was stretched at a first distance L1 (one processing point PP). In this way, the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 can manufacture objects along either the vertical or horizontal direction. Furthermore, in the additive manufacturing apparatus 100, the cross-sectional shape of the manufactured object can be arbitrarily changed by adjusting to either the first distance L1 or the second distance L2, without requiring complex laser scanning or complex adjustments of the position and orientation of the stage 50.

[0033] As described above, the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment allows the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 to be adjusted to either a first distance L1 when there is one processing point PP (where the raw material, metal powder MP, is layered) or a second distance L2 when there are two processing points PP. Therefore, a number of wires corresponding to the number of processing points PP, which varies depending on the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50, can be manufactured as an object. Specifically, when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 is the first distance L1, there is one processing point PP, so one wire can be manufactured as an object (for example, object F1 in Figure 5). On the other hand, when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 is the second distance L2, there are two processing points, so two wires can be manufactured simultaneously as an object (for example, object F2 in Figure 6). Furthermore, when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 is changed from a first distance L1 to a second distance L2, or from a second distance L2 to a first distance L1, during the process of creating the object, the number of processing points PP increases or decreases. This allows for the creation of an object (for example, objects F3 and F4 in Figures 7 and 8) that includes a single wire portion (for example, portion F3a in Figure 7, portion F4b in Figure 8) and branched portions that branch off from that wire portion (for example, portion F3b in Figure 7, portion F4a and portion F4c in Figure 8). Therefore, with the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the object can be arbitrarily changed by adjusting the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50.

[0034] Furthermore, in the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, two divided laser beams SL are emitted by the first prism 41 and the second prism 42, which are laser beam splitting units, and the DOE 43, which is a laser beam conversion unit, converts the cross-sectional shape of the divided laser beams SL into a rectangle and emits it on the -Z axis side. As a result, it is possible to manufacture objects made of wires with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. In addition, by adjusting the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 within the range of the first distance L1, the aspect ratio of the rectangular shape in the cross-section of the manufactured wire can be varied, as shown by the laser cross-sectional shapes CS1 to CS3 in Figure 4. Also, when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 is the second distance L2, the rectangular shape of the cross-sectional shape of the divided laser beam LS becomes more distorted as the distance from the focal point FP increases within the range of the second distance L2, so it is possible to manufacture two wires simultaneously according to the cross-sectional shape of the divided laser beam LS emitted from the focusing lens 44 (the cross-sectional shape that changes depending on the distance from the focal point FP).

[0035] When bending wire, the shape of the workpiece is limited by the processing limits of the bending process. On the other hand, with the additive manufacturing apparatus 100, since the wire is formed by layering molten metal powder MP, it is possible to form a wire that is already bent from the beginning, and thus it is also possible to manufacture a workpiece formed by bending the wire into any shape. For example, when manufacturing a coil as a workpiece, it is possible to manufacture a coil with a higher packing density by using the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment than by bending the wire to form the coil. Furthermore, since the additive manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can manufacture a coil made of wire with a rectangular cross-section, it is possible to manufacture a coil with an even higher packing density compared to a coil made of wire with a circular cross-section. As a result, it becomes possible to manufacture a motor with a smaller size while maintaining the output.

[0036] In typical metal 3D printing systems, especially those that fabricate while supplying metal powder, the cross-sectional shape of the laser used to melt the metal powder is approximately circular. While it is possible to fabricate wires with cross-sectional shapes other than approximately circular using such lasers, this requires complex laser scanning and intricate adjustments to the position and orientation of the stage, and tends to increase the fabrication time. On the other hand, the additive manufacturing system 100 of this embodiment can fabricate wires with different cross-sectional shapes simply by adjusting the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 to either the first distance or the second distance L2.

[0037] <Modified form of this embodiment> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit, for example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0038] In the embodiment described above, the stage 50 was able to change position along the X, Y, and Z axes, but is not limited to this. For example, the laser processing head 40 may also be able to change position along the X, Y, and Z axes.

[0039] In the embodiment described above, the DOE43, as the laser light conversion unit, converted the cross-sectional shape of the segmented laser beam SL into a rectangle, but it is not limited to this. The DOE43 may convert the cross-sectional shape of the segmented laser beam SL into a shape other than a rectangle. Furthermore, the DOE43 does not have to be provided on the laser processing head 40.

[0040] In the embodiment described above, the laser beam splitting section was configured such that the first prism 41 had two bevels on the + side in the Z-axis direction, and the second prism 42 had two bevels on the - side in the Z-axis direction, thereby emitting two split laser beams SL towards the -Z-axis direction. However, it is not limited to this configuration. The first prism 41 and the second prism 42 may each have three or more bevels, thereby emitting three or more split laser beams SL towards the -Z-axis direction. In such a case, three or more split laser beams LS are emitted from the laser processing head 40, and these three or more split laser beams LS overlap at the focal point FP. That is, in such a case, when the distance between the focusing lens 44 and the stage 50 is the second distance L2, the number of processing points PP will also be three or more, so that three or more wires can be fabricated simultaneously as part of the object.

[0041] In the embodiment described above, the supply nozzle 45 was located inside the laser processing head 40 and sprayed metal powder MP from inside the laser processing head 40 toward the stage 50, but it is not limited to this. For example, the supply nozzle 45 may be located outside the laser processing head 40 and spray metal powder MP from outside the laser processing head 40 toward the stage 50.

[0042] The embodiments of this specification have been described above based on the embodiments and modifications described above. The embodiments described above are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of this specification and do not limit it. This specification may be modified and improved without departing from its spirit and the scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in this specification. Furthermore, any technical features that are not described as essential in this specification may be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 10…Control Unit 11…Acquisition part 12…Laser control unit 13…Supply Control Unit 14…Stage Control Unit 20… Laser device 30...Powder feeding device 40…Laser processing head 41...First Prism 42...Second Prism 43…DOE (Diffraction Optical Element) 44… Focusing lens 45… Supply nozzle 50… Stage 50F…surface 100…Additive manufacturing equipment

Claims

1. An additive manufacturing apparatus that creates a molded object by layering raw materials, A laser light source that emits laser light, A laser beam splitting unit that splits the aforementioned laser beam into multiple split laser beams and emits them, A laser beam refraction unit that refracts each of the divided laser beams in a direction that brings them closer together and emits them, A stage onto which the divided laser light that has passed through the laser light refraction section is irradiated, A raw material supply unit that supplies the raw material toward the stage, It includes a distance adjustment unit that can adjust the distance between the laser beam refraction unit and the stage, The distance adjustment unit is capable of adjusting the distance to either a first distance where there is one processing point on the upper side of the stage where the raw material is stacked, or a second distance where there are multiple processing points on the upper side of the stage.

2. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, The aforementioned laser beam splitting unit emits two split laser beams, An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising a laser light conversion unit positioned between the laser light splitting unit and the laser light refraction unit, which converts the cross-sectional shape of the split laser light into a rectangular shape and emits it.

Images