Additive manufactured grille and method
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPaul J. Wolcott, Andrew Thomas Cunningham, Zachary P. Steffes, Jeffrey B. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Products and methods are provided for additive manufacturing of products in a collapsed state for post printing expansion in preparation for use in their intended application. A product includes interconnecting members configured for forming by printing in a collapsed state, with joints between the interconnecting members configured for relative movement of the interconnected members from the collapsed state to an expanded state. The interconnecting members define a larger package size in the expanded state than in the collapsed state. The joints are freely moveable in the collapsed state and are locked in place in the expanded state.
Claims20
A product formed by printing in additive manufacturing, the product comprising:
- interconnecting members configured for forming by the printing in a collapsed state;
- and
- joints between the interconnecting members configured for relative movement of the interconnected members from the collapsed state to an expanded state,
- wherein the interconnecting members define a larger package size in the expanded state than in the collapsed state,
- wherein the joints are freely moveable in the collapsed state and are locked in place in the expanded state.
A method of forming a product, comprising:
- printing, by additive manufacturing, interconnecting members in a collapsed state;
- forming joints between the interconnecting members that are configured for relative movement of the interconnected members from the collapsed state to an expanded state;
- expanding the interconnecting members from the collapsed state to the expanded state;
- and
- locking the interconnected members in the expanded state,
- wherein the interconnecting members define a larger package size in the expanded state than in the collapsed state,
- wherein the joints are freely moveable in the collapsed state and are locked in place in the expanded state.
A method of forming a product, comprising:
- designing the product as a grille of a vehicle;
- determining a build configuration of the grille to fit within a single build box of an additive manufacturing system;
- printing, by the additive manufacturing system, interconnecting members in a collapsed state;
- forming joints between the interconnecting members configured for relative movement of the interconnected members from the collapsed state to an expanded state;
- expanding the interconnecting members from the collapsed state to the expanded state;
- and
- locking the interconnected members in the expanded state,
- wherein the interconnecting members define a larger package size in the expanded state than in the collapsed state,
- wherein the joints are freely moveable in the collapsed state and are locked in place in the expanded state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.