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US 6,627,835 B1Granted
Three dimensional object fabrication techniques
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsChan Woo Chung, Karthik Ramani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for making an object. The invention includes the division of a shape of an object into a plurality of layers, and arranging the thickness of the layers based on the curvature of the object to be made. Further, curving edges of the object are replaced with linear sloping edges on the layers. The invention reduces the cost and improves the speed of rapid prototyping, especially with machining methods such as wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining.
Claims27
A method for making an object, comprising:
- preparing a model including a shape of the object;
- dividing a first portion of the model into a plurality of layers, each layer including a surface portion corresponding to a portion of the shape of the object, each surface portion of the plurality of layers being a ruled surface;
- dividing a second portion of the model into a plurality of primitive objects, each primitive object including a surface portion corresponding to a portion of the shape of the object, each surface portion of the plurality of primitive objects being a ruled surface;
- machining each of a first plurality of solid members into a shape corresponding to a different one of the plurality of layers, said machining being one chosen from the group consisting of wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining;
- and
- machining each of a second plurality of solid members into a shape corresponding to a different one of the plurality of primitive objects, said machining being one chosen from the group consisting of wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining.
3 more elements
A method for making an object, comprising:
- providing a first solid member, a second solid member, and a machining apparatus chosen from the group consisting of wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining;
- providing a model of at least a first portion of the object;
- dividing the model to have a first layer corresponding to the first solid member and a second layer corresponding to the second solid member, said first layer having a thickness different than the thickness of said second layer, each of said first and second layers including a surface portion corresponding to a portion of the shape of the object, each surface portion of said first and second layers capable of being shaped with the machining apparatus;
- shaping the surface portion of the first solid member with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of the first layer;
- shaping the surface portion of the second solid member with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of the second layer;
- assembling the first solid member and the second solid member to form at least a part of the object;
- providing a primitive object model for a second portion of the object;
- shaping a third solid member with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of the primitive object model;
- and
- joining said third solid member to said first and second solid members.
7 more elements
A method for making an object, comprising:
- providing a first solid member, a second solid member, and a machining apparatus chosen from the group consisting of wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining;
- providing a model of at least a portion of the object;
- dividing a portion of the model to have a first layer corresponding to the first solid member and a second layer corresponding to the second solid member, said first layer having a thickness different than the thickness of said second layer, each of said first and second layers including a surface portion corresponding to a portion of the shape of the object, each surface portion of said first and second layers capable of being shaped with the machining apparatus;
- shaping the surface portion of the first solid member with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of the first layer;
- shaping the surface portion of the second solid member with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of the second layer;
- assembling the first solid member and the second solid member to form at least a part of the object;
- dividing a second portion of the model into a plurality of primitive objects, each said primitive object including a surface portion corresponding to a portion of the shape of the object, each surface portion of said primitive objects capable of being shaped with the machining apparatus;
- and
- shaping the surface portion of a plurality of solid members with the machining apparatus to correspond to the shape of said primitive objects.
6 more elements
A method for making a mold of an object, comprising:
- preparing a model including a shape complementary to the shape of the object;
- dividing a first portion of the model into a plurality of layers, each layer including at least one joining feature on each of said layers;
- machining each of a plurality of solid members into a shape corresponding to a different one of the plurality of layers, said machining being by a method chosen from the group consisting of wire electrodischarge machining and laser machining;
- and
- assembling the plurality of solid members from two different directions with the joining features into at least a portion of a mold.
2 more elements
A method for making an object, comprising:
- creating a computer model of the object with a CAD program;
- slicing a first portion of the model in a first direction to create a first plurality of layers;
- slicing a second portion of the model in a different direction to create a second plurality of layers;
- machining a first plurality of solid members into shapes respectively corresponding to the shapes of said layers in said first plurality of layers;
- machining a second plurality of solid members into shapes respectively corresponding to the shapes of said layers in said second plurality of layers;
- and
- assembling said first and second pluralities of solid members in first and second non-parallel directions, respectively.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.