System and method for uniformly manufacturing a rocket fuel grain horizontally in a single section
AssigneeRocket Crafters Propulsion LLC
InventorKineo Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for producing fuel grain for a rocket engine horizontally with an additive manufacturing machine is disclosed. To begin, a fuel grain model is received. The fuel grain model is oriented in a direction of a central core axis and divided into two-dimensional layers with defined footprint areas. In accordance with the fuel grain model, a first layer is printed by applying successive fuel beads in a direction primarily parallel to the central core axis.
Claims22
A method for producing a fuel grain for a rocket engine horizontally with an additive manufacturing machine comprising:
- receiving a fuel grain model that is oriented in a direction of a central core axis and divided into two-dimensional layers with defined footprint areas;
- and
- in accordance with the fuel grain model, printing the fuel grain by applying successive fuel beads in a direction primarily parallel to the central core axis.
A build platform for an additive manufacturing machine for building rocket fuel grain that eliminates the need for support structures comprising:
- a surface that is designed so that the surface is conformally configured to an arc of a cylindrical side wall of a fuel grain, the fuel grain being cylindrical and having a top, bottom, and cylindrical side wall, wherein the build platform includes mechanized sections that displace generally orthogonally from a surface of the platform to push the fuel grain away from the build platform.
A fuel grain produced using a horizontal manufacturing method comprising:
- receiving a fuel grain model that is oriented in a direction of a central core axis and divided into two-dimensional layers with defined footprint areas that increase with each subsequent two-dimensional layer until a width of the fuel grain model is achieved;
- in accordance with the fuel grain model, printing the fuel grain by applying successive fuel beads in a direction primarily parallel to the central core axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.