Manufacturing aircraft parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsChristopher S. Huskamp, Brett Ian Lyons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is present for manufacturing parts. A powder material is comprised of a polymer that is semi-crystalline. The powder material has an overlap between a melting temperature range and a crystallization temperature range. The powder material also has a size particular distribution that is substantially a Gaussian distribution, a particle shape that is substantially spherical, and a desired melt flow rate that is less than a temperature at which the powder material begins to chemically break down. The powder material is selected to form a selected powder material. A part is manufactured using an energy delivery system and the selected powder material.
Claims25
A method for manufacturing parts, the method comprising:
- selecting a powder material that is comprised of a polymer that is a semi-crystalline, has an overlap between a melting temperature range and a crystallization temperature range, has a particle size distribution that is substantially a Gaussian distribution, has a particle shape that is substantially spherical, and has a desired melt flow rate that occurs at a temperature below a temperature at which the powder material begins to chemically break down to form a selected powder material;
- and
- manufacturing a part using an energy delivery system and the selected powder material.
A method for manufacturing parts, the method comprising:
- selecting a powder material that is comprised of a polymer that is semi-crystalline, is capable of entering a liquid state and a crystalline state within an overlapping range of temperatures, has a particle size distribution capable of allowing particles to flow through openings formed by larger particles in the particle size distribution, has a particle shape that is substantially spherical, and has a desired melt flow rate that occurs at a temperature below a temperature at which the powder material begins to chemically break down to form a selected powder material;
- and
- manufacturing a part with the selected powder material using an energy delivery system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.