Method and system for creating additive parts
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorsKenneth J. SUSNJARA, Lawrence S. EPPLIN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a part with a plurality of cut segments includes receiving a sheet of material with a machining apparatus and removing material during one or more first passes with the machining apparatus to form a plurality of segments in the sheet of material. The method also includes forming a tab by removing material during the one or more first passes with the machining apparatus for forming the segments, the tab connecting two segments within the sheet of material to each other and removing material with the machining apparatus to form joints on the segments.
Claims21
A method of manufacturing a part, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of segments by removing material from a sheet of material during one or more first passes with a machining apparatus;
- during the one or more first passes with the machining apparatus, forming a plurality of tabs on the plurality of segments, including a first tab that extends linearly and that couples a first such that each segment of the plurality of segments is coupled to another segment by at least one tab to prevent movement of the plurality of segments during the one or more first passes with the machining apparatus;
- during one or more second passes with the machining apparatus, removing the tabs from the plurality of segments;
- assembling the plurality of segments into a plurality of layers;
- and
- stacking the plurality of layers to produce the part.
A method of manufacturing a part, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of segments by removing material from a sheet of material during one or more first passes with a machining apparatus, each segment of the plurality of segments having a different size, shape, or dimension;
- forming a plurality of tabs on the plurality of segments, at least one tab of the plurality of tabs including a single curved surface;
- forming indicia identifying a layer of a plurality of layers on each segment of the plurality of segments;
- assembling the plurality of segments into a plurality of layers;
- and
- stacking the plurality of layers to produce the part.
A method of manufacturing a part, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of segments by removing material from a sheet of material during one or more first passes with a manufacturing apparatus, each segment of the plurality of segments including at least one side having a joint for attaching the segment to another segment, the joints of the plurality of segments being formed in multiple stages including:
- the one or more first passes performed with the manufacturing apparatus, during which at least one side without a joint is machined to final dimensions and during which the joints are machined to an oversized form having dimensions that are larger than final dimensions;
- and
- one or more second passes with the machining apparatus, during which the joints are machined while on a surface of the machining apparatus to the final dimensions;
- assembling the plurality of segments into a plurality of layers;
- and
- stacking the plurality of layers to produce the part.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.