Fixture for additive manufacturing and heat treatment
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorAndrew Henstridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fixture for use in an additive manufacturing and heat treatment process is disclosed. The fixture includes a tool with an upper surface and a lower surface, and an attachment system configured to releasably secure a substrate to the upper surface of the tool. The tool includes a body with an upper face and a lower face, and a reinforcement layer cladding the upper or lower face of the body. The reinforcement layer may be a superalloy.
Claims15
A fixture for use in an additive manufacturing and heat treatment process, the fixture comprising:
- a tool with an upper surface and a lower surface;
- an attachment system comprising one or more clamps or fasteners configured to releasably secure a substrate to the upper surface of the tool,
- wherein the tool comprises a body with an upper face and a lower face,
- wherein a reinforcement layer clads the lower face of the body of the tool;
- and,
- wherein the upper face of the body of the tool opposite the reinforcement layer is not clad in reinforcement material.
An apparatus for performing a method of additive manufacturing and heat treatment, the apparatus comprising:
- a. an additive manufacturing system which can be operated to perform a build process;
- b. a heat treatment system which can be operated to perform a heat treatment process;
- and
- c. a fixture comprising a tool with an upper surface and a lower surface, and an attachment system comprising one or more clamps or fasteners configured to releasably secure a substrate to the upper surface of the tool, wherein the tool comprises a body with an upper face and a lower face, and a reinforcement layer cladding the face of the body, wherein the upper face of the body opposite the reinforcement layer is not clad in reinforcement material, wherein the fixture can be moved between the additive manufacturing system and the heat treatment system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.