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:
A process is provided for additively manufacturing at least one part. The processing includes depositing a substantially uniform layer of material over at least a portion of a support surface using a belt that contacts the material. The process also includes solidifying at least a portion of the layer of material using a solidification device to form at least a portion of the part.
Abstract:
A aerodynamic particle separator for an Additive Manufacturing System (AMS) has an air supply device to entrain a mixed powder in an airstream flowing through a housing. Each particle in the mixed powder is imparted with a momentum dependent upon the particle weight and size. Utilizing this momentum characteristic, the heavier particles are capable of crossing streamlines of the airstream at a bend portion of the housing and the lighter particles generally stay within the streamlines. Utilizing this dynamic characteristic, the particles of specific weight ranges are collected through respective offtake holes in the housing and controllably fed to a spreader of the AMS.
Abstract:
A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a first section, a second section, and a functionally graded section. The first section is made of a metal material. The second section is made of a ceramic material and/or a ceramic matrix composite material. The functionally graded section is disposed between the first section and the second section.
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 system and method of operation includes a build table for supporting a powder bed that is packed through the use of a vibration inducing device proximate to the build table. Through this packing, voids of the bed produced by larger particles of a mixed powder are filled with smaller particles. After or during such packing of particles, the powder bed is leveled utilizing a leveling arm, then selected regions of the bed are melted utilizing an energy gun.
Abstract:
An additive manufacturing system utilizing an epitaxy process, and method of manufacture, utilizes a heating source and a cooling source to control thermal gradients and a solidification rate of each slice of a workpiece manufactured from a seed having a directional grain microstructure. An energy gun is utilized to melt selected regions of each successive layer of a plurality layers of a powder in a powder bed to successively form each solidified slice of the workpiece.
Abstract:
A workpiece manufactured from an additive manufacturing system (AMS) having a particle separator and a method of operating includes modeling the workpiece into layers and modeling the layers into a plurality of regions. The AMS then deposits one of a plurality of particle types into a respective one of the plurality of regions. In this way, the surface finishes of the component may be controlled and material densities from one region to the next and from one layer to the next are also controlled.
Abstract:
A method is provided for additive manufacturing. This method includes monitoring a current to a recoater blade. The monitored current is compared to a predetermined current. An operation is initiated in response to the monitored current exceeding the predetermined current. Another method for additive manufacturing includes comparing a movement of a recoater blade to an expected movement. A single exposure sequence is initiated in response to movement of the recoater blade being different than an expected movement. An additive manufacturing system is also provided which includes a recoated blade and a control. The control is operable to identify resistance to movement of the recoater blade.
Abstract:
A hybrid airfoil for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure can include a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, and an intermediate portion between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. The leading edge portion can be made of a first material, the trailing edge portion can be made of a second material, and the intermediate portion can be made of a third material. At least two of the first material, the second material and the third material are different materials.