Abstract:
A multi-dimensional component building system (18) comprising a first chamber (10) adjacent to and in fluid communication with at least one second chamber (12) through at least one door, wherein the first chamber (10) is fluidly sealed from the at least one second chamber (12) if the at least one door is in a closed position, the at least one second chamber (12) configured to provide a base to a first platform in the first chamber (10) if at least one door is open and fluid parameters of the first chamber (10) and the at least one second chamber (12) are substantially equal, wherein the first chamber (10) includes the first platform moveable by a first piston adjacent a second platform moveable by a second piston, wherein the first platform is configured to receive at least one base, wherein a dispenser in communication with build-up material disposed on the second platform is configured to move a portion of the build-up material from the second platform onto the at least one base on the first platform, the first chamber (10) including a beam source to form a component on the at least one base from the build-up material by melting or sintering.
Abstract:
An airfoil includes an airfoil body that defines a longitudinal axis. The airfoil body includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first side wall and a second side wall that is spaced apart from the first side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall join the leading edge and the trailing edge and at least partially define a cavity in the airfoil body. A lattice network connects the first side and the second side. The lattice network includes at least one enlarged node spaced apart from the first side wall and the second side wall and ribs that extend from the at least one enlarged node. Each of the ribs connects to one of the first side wall and the second side wall.
Abstract:
A method of forming an object includes installing multiple foil drums within a processing chamber of an ultrasonic consolidation system. The multiple foil drums each include different materials than the other foil drums. The multiple foil drums are positioned so that one of the foils is selected to be placed on top of the build platform. The selected foil is welded onto the build platform or onto a previously processed layer. A portion of the welded foil is then cut. The multiple foil drums are retracted away from the build platform. The portion of the welded foil that was just cut is then consolidated to the object. The build platform is incrementally lowered before the process is repeated to form the next layer of the object.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a laser beam generator, a build surface spaced apart from the laser beam generator, and first and second adjacent optical elements disposed along a beam travel path between the laser beam generator and the build surface. The first optical element is continuously rotatable about a beam steering axis and the second optical element is continuously rotatable about the beam steering axis independently of the first optical element.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a casting article (32) for use in a casting process includes rapidly forming the casting article (32) out of a metallic material. A ceramic coating (48) is applied to an exterior surface (46) of the casting article (32).