James Cotton

US Patent:

20190160540, May 30, 2019

Filed:

Nov 30, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/827153

Inventors:

- Chicago IL, US
Christopher A. Meyer - Chicago IL, US
James D. Cotton - Chicago IL, US
Matthew J. Crill - Chicago, CA

International Classification:

B22F 7/00
B22F 3/105
B22F 3/24
B23P 9/00

Abstract:

Examples for refining the microstructure of metallic materials used for additive manufacturing are described herein. An example can involve generating a first layer of an integral object by heating a metallic material to a molten state such that the metallic material includes a solid-liquid interface. The example can further involve applying an electromagnetic field or vibrations to the metallic material of the first layer. In some instances, the electromagnetic fields or vibrations perturb the first layer of metallic material causing nucleation sites to form at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. The example also includes generating a second layer coupled to the first layer of the integral object. Generating the second layer increases a number of nucleation sites at the solid-liquid interface of the metallic material in the molten state. Each nucleation site can grows a crystal at a spatially-random orientation.

US Patent:

20190160589, May 30, 2019

Filed:

Nov 30, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/827024

Inventors:

- Chicago IL, US
Christopher A. Meyer - Chicago IL, US
James D. Cotton - Chicago IL, US
Matthew J. Crill - Chicago, CA

International Classification:

B23K 26/00
B33Y 10/00
B33Y 70/00
C22F 1/00
B23K 26/144
B23K 26/342
B24C 1/10

Abstract:

Example implementations relate to techniques for refining the microstructure of metallic materials used for additive manufacturing. An example can involve generating a first layer of an integral object using a material with grains structured in a first arrangement. After a threshold duration occurs since generating the first layer, the example can involve applying an external force to the first layer to cause deformations in the first arrangement of grains. The example can further involve generating a second layer coupled to the first layer of the integral object to form a portion of the integral object. Generating the second layer of the integral object causes the material of the first layer to recrystallize new grains to replace grains proximate the deformations. The grains that result from recrystallization are structured in new arrangement that improves the physical and mechanical properties of the layer and subsequent layers collective.