# US 2020/0401103 A1 · Methods of manufacturing one or more discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401103 A1 - Document ID: US20200401103A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/948,180 - Filed: 2020-09-08 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-16 - Assignees: Protolabs, Inc. - Applicants: Protolabs, Inc. - Inventors: James L. Jacobs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401103A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/4099: Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing - B29C 64/379: Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots - B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - G05B 2219/35134: 3-D cad-cam - G05B 2219/49007: Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A system for manufacturing a plurality of discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing using an automated manufacturing device includes an automated manufacturing device, the automated manufacturing device including at least a controller configured to receive at least a graphical model of a plurality of structures, receive at least a graphical representation of at least an interconnecting portion, the at least an interconnecting portion connecting at least a first structure of the plurality of structures to at least a second structure of the plurality of structures, and generate a graphical representation of an additively manufacture body of material, as a function of the graphical model of the plurality of structures, and the graphical representation of the at least an interconnecting portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a plurality of discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing, the method comprising: receiving an additively manufactured body of material including a plurality of interconnected structures; receiving a frame having at least an opening; placing the additively manufactured body of material within the opening of the frame; installing a removable fixating material around the additively manufactured body of material and within the opening of the frame, such that the removable fixing material and the additively manufactured body of material form a stabilized workpiece; forming, by subtractive manufacturing, the plurality of discrete objects from the body of material; and removing the removable fixating material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a reference feature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein placing the additively manufactured body of material within the opening of the frame further comprises locating the additively manufactured body of material in a precise position relative to the frame based on the reference feature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the removable fixating material comprises a wax. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein installing the removable fixating material around the additively manufactured body of material and within the opening of the frame further comprises detaching a section of the frame from the stabilized workpiece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein forming the plurality of discrete objects from the body of material further comprises performing a plurality of positionings of the stabilized workpiece at a secondary manufacturing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing the removable fixating material further comprises liberating each discrete object of the plurality of discrete objects from the frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving at least a machine-control instruction set from an additive manufacturing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises forming, by subtractive manufacturing, the plurality of discrete objects from the body of material as a function of the machine-control instruction set. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises processing the plurality of discrete objects to a desired finish. ### Claim 11 A system for manufacturing a plurality of discrete objects from a body of material created by additive manufacturing, the system comprising: a subtractive manufacturing device, the subtractive manufacturing device configured to: receive an additively manufactured body of material including a plurality of interconnected structures; receive a frame having at least an opening; place the additively manufactured body of material within the opening of the frame; install a removable fixating material around the additively manufactured body of material and within the opening of the frame, such that the removable fixing material and the additively manufactured body of material form a stabilized workpiece; form the plurality of discrete objects from the body of material by subtractive manufacturing; and remove the removable fixating material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the frame includes a reference feature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to locate the additively manufactured body of material in a precise position relative to the frame based on the reference feature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the removable fixating material comprises a wax. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to detach a section of the frame from the stabilized workpiece. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to perform a plurality of positionings of the stabilized workpiece at a secondary manufacturing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to liberate each discrete object of the plurality of discrete objects from the frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to receive at least a machine-control instruction set from an additive manufacturing device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is further configured to form the plurality of discrete objects from the body of material as a function of the machine-control instruction set by subtractive manufacturing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the subtractive manufacturing device is configured to process the plurality of discrete objects to a desired finish.