Constructing parts using cut layer additive manufacturing
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorKenneth J. Susnjara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a part using a cutting machine includes placing a non-porous sheet on a surface of a material cutting machine, removing material from the non-porous sheet to form a plurality of sections of the part, and while the non-porous sheet is present on the material cutting machine, forming fastening holes within the sections. The method further includes removing the sections from a remainder of the sheet, placing the sections together such that each section of the part abuts another section, and inserting fasteners through the fastening holes of the sections.
Claims13
A method of manufacturing a part using a cutting machine, the method comprising:
- placing a non-porous sheet on a surface of a material cutting machine;
- removing material from the non-porous sheet to form a plurality of sections of the part;
- while the non-porous sheet is present on the material cutting machine, forming fastening holes within the sections;
- removing the sections, as separate pieces, from a remainder of the non-porous sheet, at least one of the sections being formed as a plurality of pieces that together form a layer of the part;
- placing the sections together such that each section of the part abuts another section, two or more of the pieces being connected to each other by a joint having interlocking shapes;
- and
- inserting fasteners through the fastening holes of the sections.
A method of manufacturing a part using a cutting machine, the method comprising:
- placing a sheet of material on a surface of a material cutting machine;
- removing material from the sheet to form a plurality of sections of a part including first and second sections on the sheet that have a first portion of a joint and a second portion of the joint, respectively;
- removing additional material from the sheet to form a slot for vacuum-forming, a path for coolant, or both;
- separating the sections from a remainder of the sheet, at least one of the sections being formed as a plurality of pieces that together form a layer of the part;
- and
- assembling the sections together to form the part, two or more of the pieces being connected to each other by the joint, the first portion of the joint and the second portion of the joint having interlocking shapes, including securing the sections with adhesive, fasteners, or both, such that an internal channel is formed through at least two of the sections, at least the first section and the second section being assembled to each other by joining the first portion of the joint and the second portion of the joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.