Bae Systems, Inc.

Austin James Cook

Jonathan Michael Carberry

David McMillan

Aron Derecichei

Craig Ashmore

Stephen Arthur Morgan

Matthew James Prentice

Steven Robert Barnes

David Mcmillan

A method of estimating a property of an article manufactured, at least in part, by additive manufacturing, AM, preferably directed energy deposition, DED, and/or powder bed fusion, PBF, is described. The method implemented, at least in part, by a computer comprising a processor and a memory. The method comprises: obtaining a set of in-process parameters of the AM of the article, wherein respective parameters of the set thereof have positional information associated therewith; inferring a set of attributes of the article corresponding to the set of in-process parameters, wherein respective attributes of the set thereof have the positional information associated therewith; and estimating the property of the article based, at least in part, on the inferred set of attributes.

Structural simulation of additively manufactured components

A system comprising: an additive manufacturing apparatus configured to perform an additive manufacturing process using a feedstock supplied thereto, thereby to produce an article; a feedstock storage module configured to supply feedstock to the additive manufacturing apparatus; a machining apparatus configured to perform a machining process; a controller configured to control operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus and the machining apparatus; and are cycling module configured to receive a waste material and to produce the feedstock therefrom, and to transfer the produced feedstock to the feedstock storage module. The additive manufacturing apparatus and the machining apparatus comprise a common heat source, the additive manufacturing apparatus configured to use the common heat source to perform the additive manufacturing process, and the machining apparatus configured to use the common heat source to perform the machining process.

Manufacturing system for use in space

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (). The method comprises specifying a path along which a cutting tool () is moved during machining the workpiece (), the path comprising segments (); defining, for each segment (), an exit point on that segment (); defining, for each segment (), an exit path () from the exit point of that segment () to a point remote from the workpiece (); performing a machining process including moving the cutting tool () along the tool path and machining the workpiece (); and, during the machining process, when one or more criteria are satisfied: interrupting the machining process and, without machining the workpiece (), moving the cutting tool () to the exit point of the current segment () and then along the exit path () of the current segment ().

Segmented path following machining method and apparatus

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a depth of a feature () formed in an object (), the feature () having been formed in the object () by a cutting tool (). The apparatus comprises: a camera () configured to capture an image of the feature () and a portion of the object () proximate to the feature (); and one or more processors operatively coupled to the camera () and configured to: detect, in the image, an edge () of the feature () between the feature () and a surface of the object (); using the detected edge (), calculate a diameter for a circle (); acquire a point angle of the cutting tool (); and, using the calculated diameter and the acquired point angle, calculate a depth value for the feature ().

Inspection of drilled features in objects

Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (); a first member () (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool () both coupled to the first robot (); a second robot (); and a second member () coupled to the second robot (); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members () against opposite sides of a part to be drilled () (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part () and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (); and the first member () and the drilling tool () are arranged such that the drilling tool () may drill into the portion of the part () of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part () pressed against by the first member (). The robots () may be robotic arms.

Drilling apparatus and method

Path following machining method and apparatus

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (). The method comprises: specifying a path along which a cutting tool () is to be moved during machining of the workpiece (), the path comprising a plurality of segments (); defining, for each segment (), an entry point and an entry path () from a point remote from the workpiece () to that entry point; moving a first cutting tool () along the tool path from a first point to a second point and machining the workpiece (); after the first cutting tool () has been moved to the second point, moving the first cutting tool () to a point remote from the workpiece (); moving a second cutting tool () along the entry path () of the segment () that contains the second point, and then from the entry point to the second point.

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Balderstone, United Kingdom

Austin James Cook