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US 7,168,935 B1Granted
Solid freeform fabrication apparatus and methods
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsKaren M. Taminger, J. Kevin Watson, Robert A. Hafley, Daniel D. Petersen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object comprising a sealed container; an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container; a positioning subsystem contained within said container; a wire feed subsystem contained within said container; an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, and wire feed subsystem; and a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem.
Claims38
An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object by a sequential deposition of a wire feedstock comprising:
- a sealed container capable of maintaining a vacuum environment;
- a positioning subsystem contained within said container and capable of controlling the position of said object;
- a wire feed subsystem contained within said container and capable of depositing said wire feedstock in solid form at a target location relative to said position of said object in a sequential manner;
- an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container, directing energy to said target location, melting said wire feedstock at said target location consistent with said sequential deposition of said wire feedstock, and sustaining a molten pool at said target location thereby forming said object in said sequential manner;
- a vacuum subsystem capable of creating and sustaining said vacuum environment in said container;
- an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and vacuum subsystem;
- and
- a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, vacuum subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem.
5 more elements
An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object by a sequential deposition of a wire feedstock comprising:
- a sealed container capable of maintaining a vacuum environment;
- a positioning subsystem contained within said container and capable of controlling the position of said object;
- an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container and directing energy to said target location;
- a wire feed subsystem contained within said electron beam subsystem and capable of depositing said wire feedstock in solid form to a target location relative to said position of said object in a sequential manner;
- a vacuum subsystem connected to said container and capable of creating and sustaining said vacuum environment in said container;
- an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and vacuum subsystem;
- and
- a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, vacuum subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem,
- wherein said electron beam subsystem is capable of melting said wire feedstock at said target location consistent with said sequential deposition of said wire feedstock, sustaining a molten pool at said target location thereby forming said object in said sequential manner.
6 more elements
An apparatus for formation of a freeform three dimensional object comprising:
- a containment means for enclosing a workspace;
- a delivery means contained within said containment means and for depositing a feedstock material in a solid form, in a predetermined pattern, and a predetermined rate onto a target;
- a positioning means contained within said containment means and for positioning said target to a predetermined location;
- an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container and directing energy relative to said target and melting said feedstock at said target location and sustaining a molten pool at said target location thereby forming said object consistent with said predetermined pattern and at said predetermined rate;
- an atmospheric pressure control means connected to said containment means and for creating and maintaining a vacuum environment inside said containment means;
- a command, control, and communications means electronically connected to said containment means, electronically connected to said delivery means, electronically connected to said heating means, electronically connected to said positioning means, electronically connected to said atmospheric control means, and for commanding, controlling, and providing communications for said delivery means, said heating means, said positioning means, and said atmospheric pressure control means;
- and
- a power distribution means electrically connected to said delivery mean, said heating means, said positioning means, said atmospheric control means, and said command, control, and communications means and for distributing power to said delivery means, said positioning means, said heating means, said atmospheric pressure control means, and said command, control, and communications means.
5 more elements
An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object in interplanetary space by a sequential deposition of a wire feedstock comprising:
- a frame;
- a positioning subsystem attached to said frame and capable of controlling the position of said object;
- a wire feed subsystem attached to said frame and capable of depositing said wire feedstock in a solid form relative to a target location relative to said position of said object in a sequential manner;
- an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy relative to said position of said object, melting said wire feedstock at said target location consistent with said sequential deposition of said wire feedstock, and sustaining a molten pool at said target location thereby forming said object in said sequential manner;
- an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, and wire feed subsystem;
- and
- a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.