Method for additive manufacturing nacelle inlet lipskins
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEric D. Bol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for fabricating a part, comprising a curved shaft; a build plate connected to the curved shaft; a motor; and a transmission connecting the motor and the curved shaft. The build plate moves along a curved path having a radius of curvature originating on an axis when the transmission transfers power from the motor to the curved shaft. Material deposited on the build plate along the curved path forms the part comprising a solid of revolution around the axis. In one or more examples, the part is an aircraft engine inlet.
Claims20
An apparatus 100 for fabricating a part 120, comprising:
- a curved shaft 102;
- a build plate 104 connected to the curved shaft 102;
- a motor 106;
- and
- a transmission 108 connecting the motor 106 and the curved shaft 102;
- and
- wherein:
- the build plate 104 moves along a curved path 122 having a radius of curvature R originating on an axis 112, when the transmission 108 transfers power from the motor 106 to the curved shaft 102, and
- material 404 deposited on the build plate 104 along the curved path 122 forms the part 120 comprising a solid of revolution 308 around the axis 112.
A method for fabricating a part, comprising:
- driving a curved shaft 102 connected to a build plate 104, the build plate 104 moving along a curved path 122 having a radius of curvature R originating on an axis 112;
- and
- depositing material 404 on the build plate 104 along the curved path 122, wherein the material 404 forms a part comprising a solid of revolution 308 around the axis 112.
An engine inlet 304, comprising:
- a solid of revolution 308 around an axis 112 of revolution, wherein the solid of revolution 308 comprises a single piece 260 having an inlet cross-sectional profile 200 including a cross-sectional profile of a lipskin 600 attached to a cross-sectional profile of a forward bulkhead 604.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.