Inventors:
John Joseph Marcin - Marlborough CT
Justin Andreas Neutra - Vernon CT
David Henry Abbott - Middletown CT
James Peter Aduskevich - Higganum CT
Dilip M. Shah - Glastonbury CT
Dorothea Nadette Carraway - Manchester CT
Raymond Paul Langevin - West Hartford CT
Marc R. Sauerhoefer - Chicopee MA
Richard Alan Stone - Stafford Springs CT
Assignee:
United Technologies Corporation - East Hartford CT
International Classification:
B32B 1500
C30B 1316
B23K 2634
Abstract:
A containerless method of producing a crack free metallic article of near-net shape includes melting a filler material into a metallic substrate or seed under conditions chosen to preclude cracking. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a laser beam is operated at a relatively low power density and at a relatively large beam diameter at the substrate surface for an extended length of time to produce a molten pool with a low aspect ratio. Near-net shape is achieved by applying the process in a closed-loop, multi-axis material deposition system.