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US 10,300,544 B2Granted
Machining and manufacturing systems and method of operating the same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDragan Filipovic, Mathias Ernst Messmer, Simon Josef Würzinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electromachining system includes at least one steerable electrode. The steerable electrode includes an electrode positioning mechanism configured to facilitate six degrees of freedom referenced to a pitch axis, a yaw axis, and a roll axis. The three axes are substantially perpendicular to each other. The electrode positioning mechanism includes a first end and a rotatable electrode tip coupled to the first end.
Claims15
An electromachining system comprising:
- at least one steerable electrode comprising:
- an electrode positioning mechanism configured to facilitate six degrees of freedom referenced to a pitch axis, a yaw axis, and a roll axis, wherein the three axes are substantially perpendicular to each other, said electrode positioning mechanism comprising a first end;
- and
- a rotatable electrode tip coupled to said first end,
- wherein said at least one steerable electrode comprises a second end opposite said first end, said second end comprising:
- at least one electrode positioning mechanism drive device;
- and
- at least one rotatable electrode tip drive device,
- further wherein said electrode positioning mechanism comprises at least one electrode positioning joint mechanism comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion proximate said first portion;
- at least one flexible shaft extending from said first portion to said second portion;
- at least one gear coupled to said at least one flexible shaft;
- at least one axle operatively coupled to said at least one gear, said at least one axle pivotably couples said first portion to said second portion;
- at least one fluid flushing conduit extending from said first portion to said second portion;
- and
- at least one tensioning cable extending from said first portion to said second portion.
13 more elements
A parallel manufacturing system comprising:
- a plurality of steerable electrodes, each steerable electrode of said plurality of steerable electrodes comprising:
- an electrode positioning mechanism configured to facilitate six degrees of freedom referenced to a pitch axis, a yaw axis, and a roll axis, wherein the three axes are substantially perpendicular to each other, said electrode positioning mechanism comprising a first end;
- and
- a rotatable electrode tip coupled to said first end;
- and
- at least one controller configured to dynamically alter one or more of:
- a shape and an orientation of said each steerable electrode;
- and
- a value of electric current transmitted through said each steerable electrode, thereby removing material from an object through a plurality of predetermined transit paths through the object substantially simultaneously,
- wherein said electrode positioning mechanism comprises at least one electrode positioning joint mechanism comprising:
- a first portion and a second portion proximate said first portion;
- at least one flexible shaft extending from said first portion to said second portion;
- at least one gear coupled to said at least one flexible shaft;
- at least one axle operatively coupled to said at least one gear, said at least one axle pivotably couples said first portion to said second portion;
- at least one fluid flushing conduit extending from said first portion to said second portion;
- and
- at least one tensioning cable extending from said first portion to said second portion.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.