Back to results
US 10,780,507 B2Granted
Embedding fiducial marks into articles of manufacture with non-trivial dimensional variations
AssigneeArevo, Inc.
InventorArchana Kashikar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a tangible three-dimensional structure as a fiducial mark, which structure is, at least partially, tolerant of dimensional variations in the article. The illustrative embodiment uses three such tangible three-dimensional structures: (1) a portion of a tangible conical surface, (2) a portion of a tangible spheroidal surface, and (3) a portion of a tangible pyramidal surface.
Claims24
A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- fabricating the article of manufacture with an additive manufacturing technology;
- establishing a first fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to create a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical-surface volume;
- establishing a second fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical-surface volume;
- and
- establishing a third fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the third tangible conical surface establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical-surface volume;
- wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear;
- wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume;
- wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a through hole;
- wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole;
- and
- wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a through hole.
8 more elements
A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- fabricating the article of manufacture with an additive manufacturing technology;
- establishing a first fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to create a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical axis;
- establishing a second fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical axis;
- and
- establishing a third fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical axis;
- wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear;
- wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel;
- wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a through hole;
- wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole;
- and
- wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is a through hole.
8 more elements
A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- fabricating the article of manufacture with an additive manufacturing technology;
- establishing a first fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to create a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical-surface volume;
- establishing a second fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical-surface volume;
- and
- establishing a third fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the third tangible conical surface establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical-surface volume;
- wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear;
- wherein the first conical-surface volume does not equal the second conical-surface volume;
- wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
- and
- wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole.
7 more elements
A method of fabricating an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- fabricating the article of manufacture with an additive manufacturing technology;
- establishing a first fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture to create a first hole in a first portion of a material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a first portion of a first tangible conical surface, wherein the first tangible conical surface establishes (i) a first conical apex, and (ii) a first conical axis;
- establishing a second fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a second hole in a second portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a second portion of a second tangible conical surface, wherein the second tangible conical surface establishes (i) a second conical apex, and (ii) a second conical axis;
- and
- establishing a third fiducial reference point with the article of manufacture by removing a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture to create a third hole in a third portion of the material composing the article of manufacture, wherein the third hole in the third portion of the material is defined, at least in part, by a third portion of a third tangible conical surface, wherein the establishes (i) a third conical apex, and (ii) a third conical axis;
- wherein the first conical apex, the second conical apex, and the third conical apex are non-collinear;
- wherein the first conical axis and the second conical axis are non-parallel;
- wherein the first hole in the first portion of the material is a blind hole;
- and
- wherein the second hole in the second portion of the material is a through hole.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.