System and method for hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing with part movement
AssigneeMade In Space, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Snyder, William Brandon Kirkland, Douglas Alan Marsh, Patrick F. Flowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is disclosed including a robotic arm movable about a rotational axis to at least one of move and reposition a part at least one of during part creation and after part creation in a micro-gravity environment, wherein creation is performed by at least one of a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a gripping device attached to the robotic arm which holds the part during at least one of part creation and after part creation. Another system and method are also disclosed.
Claims23
A system, the system comprising:
- a robotic arm movable about a rotational axis to at least one of move and reposition a part at least one of during part creation and after part creation in a micro-gravity environment, wherein creation is performed by at least one of a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem;
- a gripping device attached to the robotic arm which holds the part during at least one of part creation and after part creation;
- a rotary table upon which the part is located during creation, the rotary table is configured to move forward and backward and circular about a center radius of the rotary table;
- and
- an enclosure having a door to maintain the robotic arm, gripping device and rotary table during part creation to minimize debris from the part creation escaping into the micro-gravity environment;
- wherein the robotic arm is attached to the door of the enclosure to provide for the robotic arm to be removed from the enclosure when the door is opened to provide access within the enclosure.
A method comprising:
- providing a robotic arm, within a build area in a micro-gravity environment where creation of a part is performed by at least one of a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem, wherein the robotic arm is movable about a rotational axis to at least one of move and reposition the part at least one of during part creation and after part creation;
- engaging and disengagement the robotic arm from the part with a gripping device attached to the robotic arm;
- moving the part during creation at least one of forward, backward and circular when the part is upon a rotary table;
- and
- enclosing the robotic arm, gripping device and rotary table within an enclosure having a door during part creation to prohibit debris from the part creation escaping into the micro-gravity environment wherein the robotic arm is attached to the door of the enclosure to provide for the robotic arm to be removed from the enclosure when the door is opened to provide access within the enclosure.
A system, the system comprising:
- an enclosure having a door located in a micro-gravity environment;
- a build area, located in the enclosure, to create a part with at least one of a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem, the build area configured to move forward and backward and circular about a center radius of the build area;
- a robotic arm with at least a first end attached to the door of the enclosure and a second end movable about a rotational axis to at least one of move and reposition a part at least one of during part creation and after part creation;
- and
- a gripping device attached to the robotic arm which holds the part during at least one of part creation and after part creation;
- wherein the robotic arm is removed from the enclosure when the door is opened to provide access to the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.