Method of manufacturing a component

摘要

Apparatus for manufacturing a component and a method of manufacturing a component, e.g. by material deposition. The method comprises the steps of directing a beam (20) of energy to heat a working region (56) of a substrate (32) and adjusting the cross sectional shape of the beam (20) to thereby generate a variety of predetermined cross sectional shapes of working region (56) while the beam (20) is being directed onto the substrate (32). Thus the distribution of energy delivered to the substrate (32) is controlled during the manufacturing process. The cross sectional shape and area of the beam (20) is repeatedly monitored and compared to a library (46) of predetermined cross sectional shape(s) and area(s).