Apparatus and methods for improvement of surface geometries of internal channels of additively manufactured components
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsBrian A. Fisher, David W. Morganson
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Abstract
A cutting system for removing an excess material along a length of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process is disclosed. In various embodiments, the cutting system includes a cutting component having an abrasive surface configured to remove the excess material along a down-facing surface of the channel and a smooth surface configured for sliding contact with an up-facing surface of the channel; and a motive component configured to urge the cutting component through the channel.
Claims20
A cutting system for removing an excess material along a length of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process, comprising:
- a cutting component having an abrasive surface configured to remove the excess material along a down-facing surface of the channel resulting from the additive manufacturing process and a smooth surface configured for sliding contact with an up-facing surface of the channel resulting from the additive manufacturing process;
- and
- a motive component configured to urge the cutting component through the channel.
A cutting system for removing an excess material along a length of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process, comprising:
- a cutting component having a first means configured to remove the excess material along a down-facing surface of the channel resulting from the additive manufacturing process and a second means configured for sliding contact of the cutting component with an up-facing surface of the channel resulting from the additive manufacturing process;
- and
- a motive component configured to urge the cutting component through the channel.
A method of removing excess material along a down-facing surface of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process, comprising:
- disposing within the channel a cutting component having a rough surface configured to abrade the excess material and a smooth surface configured to slide along an up-facing surface of the channel;
- and
- urging the cutting component along a length of the channel using the up-facing surface of the channel as a guide for the cutting component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.