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US 8,578,748 B2Granted
Reducing force needed to form a shape from a sheet metal
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsChristopher S. Huskamp, Keith A. Young, James B. Castle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a platform, a stylus, and a heating system. The platform is capable of holding a sheet of material. The stylus is capable of impinging the sheet of the material to incrementally form a shape for a part. The heating system is capable of heating at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material prior to the stylus impinging the location.
Claims25
An apparatus comprising:
- a platform capable of holding a sheet of material;
- a stylus capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part;
- a heating system capable of heating at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material in an area around the stylus prior to the stylus impinging the location;
- a load sensor configured to identify a force applied by the stylus to the sheet of material;
- and
- a thermal control system controlling the heat generated based on a load identified by the load sensor.
3 more elements
An incremental sheet metal forming machine comprising:
- a platform capable of holding a sheet of material;
- a stylus capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part;
- a motion control system capable of controlling movement of the stylus;
- a heating system comprising a number of heating devices, wherein the heating system is capable of heating at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material in an area around the stylus prior to the stylus impinging the location to a temperature that causes at least one of a temporary reduction in yield strength, a temporary increase in elongation, a temporary increase in ductility, and a temporary reduction in modulus for the sheet of material;
- wherein the heating system is associated with the stylus;
- and wherein the number of heating devices is selected from at least one of an infrared heater, a coil heater, a directed energy heating device, and an induction heater;
- a number of sensors capable of generating information, wherein the number of sensors is selected from at least one of a temperature sensor and a load sensor, wherein a thermal control system is capable of controlling heat generated by the heating system using the information generated by the number of sensors;
- the thermal control system capable of controlling the heat generated by the heating system using the information from the number of sensors;
- a load sensor configured to identify a force applied by the stylus to the sheet of material;
- and
- the thermal control system controlling the heat generated based on a load identified by the load sensor.
8 more elements
A method for processing a sheet of material, the method comprising:
- securing the sheet of material relative to a tool in an incremental sheet metal forming machine;
- incrementally shaping the sheet of material into a shape of a part using a stylus;
- heating at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location in an area around the stylus at which the stylus is to impinge prior to the stylus impinging the sheet of material at the location;
- identifying a force applied by the stylus to the sheet of material via a load sensor;
- and
- controlling the heat generated based on a load identified by the load sensor via a thermal control system.
3 more elements
A method for processing a sheet metal material to form an aircraft part, the method comprising:
- securing the sheet metal material relative to a tool in an incremental sheet metal forming machine;
- incrementally shaping the sheet metal material into a shape of the aircraft part using a stylus;
- and
- heating at least a portion of the sheet metal material around the stylus in a location at which the stylus is to impinge prior to the stylus impinging the sheet metal material at the location, wherein the stylus impinges the sheet metal material, while the portion of the sheet metal material is heated to at least a selected temperature that causes at least one of a temporary reduction in yield strength, a temporary increase in elongation, a temporary increase in ductility, and a temporary reduction in modulus for the sheet metal material;
- identifying a force applied by the stylus to the sheet of material via a load sensor;
- and
- controlling the heat generated based on a load identified by the load sensor via a thermal control system.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.