Powder removal floating structures
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDaniel Jason Erno, Arunkumar Natarajan, Ken Ivcar Salas Nobrega, Ananda Barua
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of manufacture includes a part structure formed via a first additive manufacturing process and a floating structure within the part structure which is mechanically decoupled from the part structure. The floating structure is formed concurrently with the part structure via the first additive manufacturing process.
Claims19
1-11. (canceled)
A powder removal method comprising:
- identifying a part geometry;
- identifying at least one cavity within the part to place at least one powder removal feature;
- defining at least one characteristic of the at least one powder removal feature;
- creating a build file for forming the part and the at least one powder removal feature via a generative build process;
- generatively forming the part and the at least one powder removal feature;
- and
- vibrating the part and the at least one powder removal feature.
The method of claim 19, further comprising generatively forming more than one powder removal feature,
- wherein defining at least one characteristic of the at least one powder removal feature comprises at least one of defining a powder removal feature shape, dimension, orientation within the part, location within the part, and porosity.
(canceled)
A method of additively manufacturing a part structure, the method comprising:
- additively manufacturing a part structure and a plurality of floating structures disposed within a channel defined by the part structure, wherein the channel comprises an opening sized for removal of the plurality of floating structures from the channel, and wherein the channel contains powder surrounding the floating structures;
- and
- removing the plurality of floating structures and the powder from the channel through the opening at least in part by causing relative motion between the plurality of floating structures and the powder;
- wherein the plurality of floating structures occupy from 80% to 99% of the volume of the channel.
An article of manufacture comprising:
- a part structure and a plurality of floating structures disposed within a channel defined by the part structure, the part structure and the plurality of floating structures formed by an additive manufacturing process;
- wherein the channel comprises an opening sized for removal of the plurality of floating structures from the channel, and wherein the channel contains powder surrounding the floating structures;
- and
- wherein the plurality of floating structures occupy from 80% to 99% of the volume of the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.