Modular numerically controlled system

A reconfigurable system for performing a manufacturing operation on a surface, the system comprising:

• a gantry structure, including
• a first base beam,
• a second base beam parallel to the first base beam,
• a first upwardly extending beam attached to the first base beam and movable parallel to a first axis,
• a second upwardly extending beam attached to the second base beam and movable parallel to the first axis, and
• a horizontal beam extending from the first upwardly extending beam to the second upwardly extending beam and movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the upwardly extending beams;
• a connecting assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the connecting assembly is movable along and relative to the horizontal beam, and wherein the connecting assembly has a clamping arrangement at the first end;
• a concave component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is concavely curved with respect to the surface when the surface is in a position to have the manufacturing operation performed thereon by the reconfigurable system, a convex side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement at the first end of the connecting assembly, wherein the concave component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamping arrangement;
• a convex component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is convexly curved with respect to the surface when the surface is in the position to have the manufacturing operation performed thereon by the reconfigurable system, a concave side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the concave component, at the first end of the connecting assembly, wherein the convex component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamping arrangement;
• and
• a head assembly for performing a manufacturing operation on the surface, the head assembly having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the concave and convex components, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the concave component when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamping arrangement, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the convex component when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamping arrangement.

A material placement system for dispensing and compacting material onto a surface, the material placement system comprising:

• a gantry structure, further comprising:
• a first base beam,
• a second base beam parallel to the first base beam,
• a first upwardly extending beam extending upwardly from and attached to the first base beam and movable along a first axis,
• a second upwardly extending beam extending upwardly from and attached to the second base beam and movable along a second axis parallel to the first axis, and
• a horizontal beam extending from the first upwardly extending beam to the second upwardly extending beam and movable along a third axis parallel to the upwardly extending beams;
• a connecting assembly having a clamp at one end, wherein the connecting assembly is movable along and relative-to the horizontal beam;
• a concave component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is concavely curved with respect to the surface onto which the material placement system dispenses and compacts material, a convex side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the concave component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamp;
• a convex component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is convexly curved with respect to the surface onto which the material placement system dispenses and compacts material, a concave side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, as an alternative to the concave component, wherein the convex component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamp;
• and
• a material placement head for dispensing and compacting material onto the surface, wherein the material placement head has an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp, as an alternative to the concave and convex components, and wherein the material placement head is configured to be movably attached to the concave component when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the material placement head is configured to be movably attached to the convex component when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamp.

A reconfigurable apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a first beam;
• a second beam, wherein the second beam is supported by the first beam and movable along a first axis, and is also movable along a second axis relative to the first beam;
• a connecting assembly having a clamp at one end of the connecting assembly, wherein the connecting assembly is attachable to the second beam and movable along a third axis which is different from the first and second axes;
• a first component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the first component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamp;
• a second component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the second component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the one end of the second component is clamped by the clamp;
• and
• a head assembly for performing a manufacturing operation on the surface, the head assembly having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp, as an alternative to the first and second components, wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the first component for relative movement of the head assembly relative to the first component when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the second component for relative movement of the head assembly relative to the second component when the one end of the second component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the head assembly is movable relative to the first and second beam when attached to the connecting assembly,
• wherein the clamp connects the one of the first component, the second component, and the head assembly that has the end that is being clamped by the clamp at least one of physically, electrically, and pneumatically to the connecting assembly.