Casting parts cycle life improvement using localized gradient material
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorThierry Andre Marchione
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of additive manufacturing can include forming a machine part having a first portion formed from a cast iron material; forming a second portion adjacent the first portion formed of a combination of the cast iron material and a different material; and forming a third portion adjacent the second portion formed of only the different material, wherein the third portion is located at a predetermined critical area of the machine part.
Claims11
A method of additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
- forming a machine part having a first portion formed from a cast iron material;
- forming a second portion adjacent the first portion including applying a material mixture including a combination of the cast iron material and a different material, wherein applying the material mixture of the second portion includes introducing the different material into the cast iron material at such a rate that the material mixture of the second portion transitions from a low concentration of the different material in the material mixture proximate the first portion to a high concentration of the different material in the material mixture proximate the third portion;
- and
- forming a third portion adjacent the second portion formed of only the different material, wherein the third portion is located at a predetermined critical area of the machine part.
A method of additive manufacturing, the method comprising:
- forming a machine part having a first portion formed from a cast iron material;
- forming a second portion adjacent the first portion formed of a combination of the cast iron material and a different material;
- and
- forming a third portion adjacent the second portion formed of only the different material, wherein the third portion is located at a predetermined critical area of the machine part, wherein forming the second portion includes dispensing the cast iron and the different material using a single crucible holding both the cast iron and the different material and using an induction heater to pre-heat each casted layer prior to a pouring of an additional layer.
A method of remanufacturing or repairing a machine part, the method comprising:
- using additive manufacturing such that a first portion of the machine part furthest from a predetermined critical area of the machine part is repaired using a cast iron material;
- using additive manufacturing such a second portion of the machine part adjacent the first portion is formed of a combination of the cast iron material and a different material;
- and
- using additive manufacturing such that a third portion of the machine part adjacent the second portion is formed of only the different material, wherein the third portion is located at the predetermined critical area of the machine part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.