Abstract:
A system for producing an object from a powder by selective laser sintering. The system includes a chamber and a support platform in the chamber. A spreader applies a layer of powder to a bed surface. An irradiation source irradiates select points in the powdered layer prepared on the support platform. A radiant heater heats at least a portion of the bed surface. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of select points on the bed surface. A controller adjusts the radiant heater in response to temperature data provided by the temperature sensor.
Abstract:
A system and method for identifying test bars formed during a selective laser sintering build. A part cake is formed during a selective laser sintering build. The part cake comprises parts formed from a powder by selective laser sintering and unsintered powder around the formed parts. The parts include test bars for performing material testing. Each test bar includes a plurality of indentations in a first grip section and a second grip section. The plurality of indentations are arranged in a information providing pattern that is adapted to be readable after the test part is removed from the part cake.
Abstract:
A method for preparing a PEKK powder for use in SLS includes the steps of: providing a raw, non-powder PEKK material; heat treating the raw PEKK to evaporate at least substantially all of a liquid solvent in the raw PEKK, causing at least substantially all of the raw PEKK to be in the form of irregularly-shaped particles; cooling the raw PEKK; and grinding the raw PEKK to form a PEKK powder.
Abstract:
A powder composition suitable for use in selective laser sintering for printing an object. The powder composition includes a first fraction including a plurality of polyaryletherketone (PAEK) particles having a mean diameter less than 30 microns, a second fraction having a plurality of polyaryletherketone (PAEK) particles having a mean diameter greater than 30 microns, and a third fraction having a plurality of carbon fibers. The first fraction and the second fraction are formed by an air classification separation performed on a pulverized powder. After the separation, the first fraction, the second fraction, and the third fraction are blended in a high intensity mixer. The powder composition when used in selective laser sinter results in parts with increased tensile strength and reduced surface roughness, among other improvements, as compared to similar powders omitting the first fraction. The PAEK may include polyetherketoneketone (PEKK).
Abstract:
An acoustic honeycomb panel is plugged with an acoustic honeycomb plug. The acoustic honeycomb plug is adhesively bonded in the panel using a honeycomb seam. The honeycomb seam is composed of a honeycomb support that is located within the seam channel and an adhesive. Using honeycomb seams to adhesively bond acoustic honeycomb plugs into acoustic honeycomb panels is useful in repairing damaged areas of acoustic honeycomb panels that are located in the acoustic treatments for jet engines.
Abstract:
A thermal panel having a high temperature side located nearest a source of heat and a low temperature side. The thermal panel includes a corrugated composite material core having hot side ridges and cold side ridges. A hot side skin is attached to the hot side ridges to form a plurality of first cells. A cold side skin is attached to the cold side ridges to form a plurality of second cells. The first cells and second cells are substantially filled with an insulating material that has a thermal conductivity which is lower than the thermal conductivity of the composite material.
Abstract:
Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) that can be cured/molded to form aerospace composite parts that are designed to tolerate hot and wet conditions. The prepreg includes fibers and an uncured resin. The uncured resin includes an epoxy component that is a combination of a trifunctional epoxy resin, a tetrafunctional epoxy resin and a solid epoxy resin. The resin further includes polyethersulfone as a toughening agent and a curing agent.
Abstract:
A load-bearing composite structure for connection to a support body or structure. The load-bearing structure includes a load-bearing element that is made up of continuous reinforcing fibers and a resin matrix. The load-bearing element has an attachment portion for connection to the support body. The load-bearing composite structure further includes a connection element that is formed using a molding material which is composed of discontinuous fibers and a resin matrix. The molding material is molded over the surface of the attachment portion of the load-bearing element.
Abstract:
A module (1) for holding at least one bushing (17) within a recess, wherein it comprises two side surfaces (2, 3), an upper (4) and a lower (5) surface and at least one end surface (6), wherein the upper (4) and lower (5) surfaces are of different width and arcs, respectively, in their cross-section, and the side surfaces (2, 3) are of equal height, and when coupled to a second module (8) by its side surfaces (3, 9), which second module (8) optionally may also hold at least one bushing (17), the sum of the angle (alpha) between the optionally imaginary plane side surface (12) of the one module (1) and the tangent (10) to its upper surface (4) at the intersection (A) with the side surface (3) and the angle (beta) between the optionally imaginary plane side surface (13) of the other module (8) and the tangent (11) to its upper surface (15) at the intersection (B) with the side surface (9) is at least 180 degrees and/or a plurality of modules (1), optionally when holding the bushings (17), form at least a section of a circular ring or a full circular ring.
Abstract:
Tracking or tracing of both the global and local movements of unidirectional discontinuous fiber composite (UD-DFC) chips during compression molding of UD-DFC molding compound. The tracking capability is provided by including tracer chips in the UD-DFC molding compound. The tracer chips include a resin matrix and at least one unidirectional carbon tow which is made up of a plurality of carbon filaments. The tracer chip further includes a unidirectional tracer yarn which is made up of a plurality of unidirectional filaments that are detectable by x-ray or other radiation-based scanning technique.