Constructing parts using cut layer additive manufacturing
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorKenneth J. SUSNJARA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a part using a cutting machine includes placing a non-porous sheet on a surface of a material cutting machine, removing material from the non-porous sheet to form a plurality of sections of the part, and while the non-porous sheet is present on the material cutting machine, forming fastening holes within the sections. The method further includes removing the sections from a remainder of the sheet, placing the sections together such that each section of the part abuts another section, and inserting fasteners through the fastening holes of the sections.
Claims20
A part formed at least in part from a sheet of material, the part comprising:
- a series of layers that includes at least a first layer and a second layer formed from the sheet of non-porous material;
- a first through-hole in the first layer;
- a second through-hole in the second layer, the second through-hole aligned with the first through-hole;
- a fastener extending through the first through-hole and through the second through-hole;
- and
- at least a portion of a coolant channel extending through the first layer and the second layer.
A method of forming interlocking sections from a sheet of material, the method comprising:
- placing the sheet of material on a surface of a material cutting machine;
- removing material from the sheet to form a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section having interlocking shapes configured to join together to form a layer of a part;
- forming a first through-hole in the first section and a second through-hole in the second section, the first through-hole and the second through-hole aligned when the first and second sections are interlocked;
- joining the first section and the second section by interlocking their shapes to form the layer;
- and
- inserting a fastener through the first through-hole and the second through-hole to secure the first and second sections together.
A method for creating a multi-layer part from at least one sheet of material, the method comprising:
- placing a sheet of material on a surface of a material cutting machine;
- removing material from the sheet to form a plurality of sections, each section having at least one through-hole and at least one slot for receiving adhesive;
- removing the plurality of sections from the sheet;
- stacking the plurality of sections to form the multi-layer part, such that each through-hole of each section aligns with the through-holes of adjacent sections and each slot aligns with the slots of adjacent sections to form a continuous adhesive channel;
- and
- applying adhesive within the adhesive channels formed by the aligned slots to bond the sections together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.