Nanotek Instruments, Inc.

Other

Erjian Ma

Bor Z Jang

Xin Lu

Borzeng Jang

Kerbin Chen

Jun Duan

C Jeff Wang

A method and apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object from porous solid preform layers and at least a pore-filling material. The method includes: (a) providing a work surface parallel to an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system; (b) feeding a first porous solid preform layer to the work surface; (c) using dispensing devices to dispense a first pore-filling material onto predetermined areas of the first preform layer to at least partially fill in the pores in these areas (hardened areas) for forming the first section of the object; (d) feeding a second porous preform layer onto the first layer, dispensing a second pore-filling material onto predetermined areas of the second layer for forming the second section (the second pore-filling material being the same as or different than the first); (e) repeating the operations from (b) to (d) to stack up and build successive preform layers along the Z-direction for forming multiple layers of the object with the remaining un-hardened areas of individual layers staying as a support structure; (f) sequentially or simultaneously affix successive layers together to form a unitary body; and (g) removing the support structure by exposing the un-hardened areas of the unitary body to a support-collapsing environment, causing the 3-D object to appear.

Layer-additive method and apparatus for freeform fabrication of 3-D objects

A solid freeform fabrication process and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object. The process comprises the steps of (1) operating a material deposition sub-system for dispensing droplets of solidifiable liquid compositions on demand onto selected spots of an object work surface, for using a focused heat source to maintain a heat-affected zone on the work surface, and for creating a weld pool of molten materials on this work surface by injecting selected powder particles into this heat-affected zone and (2) during the material deposition process, moving the deposition sub-system and the work surface relative to each other in an X-Y plane defined by first and second directions and in a Z direction orthogonal to the X-Y plane so that the materials are deposited to form a first layer of the object. The material in the weld pool solidifies after the heat-affected zone moves away to build portions of a layer. These steps are repeated to deposit multiple layers for forming a three-dimensional shape. Preferably, the peripheral areas and the staircase step zones between layers are built with fine droplets for improved part accuracy while the bulk of the object is built with solidification of weld pool materials. These steps are preferably executed under the control of a computer system. Preferably, the system is also operated to generate a support structure for any un-supported feature of the object.

Rapid prototyping and tooling system

This is a method and apparatus for giving an accurate vehicle location and route from one location to a desired destination. This is done by catching signals from a fixed local information source through a receiver system placed in the vehicles. The present invention is called LPS (Local Position System) navigation system because it is based on a local information system instead of getting information from a satellite or city beacon. This system has two main units. The first of these units is the Address Code, this is an emitter or carrier which is placed on roads all over the nation. This unit can provide digitized and standardized road information. The second of these units is the Receiver, which can receive signals on the road and search them in a database. This database is set in the vehicle and tells the accurate location of the vehicle. It then can give precise directions to a location based on user's input. Therefore, a system user will know where he is and exactly how to get where he wants to go. The system user can transmit the received signal to his headquarters or to people with the same equipment.

System for automatically locating and directing a vehicle

A process and apparatus for making three-dimensional, composite material objects of a predetermined shape by sequentially depositing multiple layers of continuous reinforcement fibers and solidifying matrix material on a base member in a desired pattern. The apparatus comprises (a) a movable nozzle having a flow passage and a dispensing outlet, (b) a supply of reinforcement fibers and a matrix material, a mixing device for impregnating the fibers with a matrix material to form a preimpregnated tow, and a heating device for introducing the matrix material in a fluid state, (c) a base member to support the object being made, (d) mechanical movement devices for moving the base member relative to the movable nozzle in a predetermined sequence and pattern, and for displacing the movable nozzle a predetermined incremental distance relative to the base member and relative to each successive layer deposited prior to the start of the formation of each successive layer to form multiple layers of composite material of a predetermined thickness, and (e) a metering device for discharging the preimpregnated tow at a predetermined rate onto the base member. The apparatus preferably further comprises (f) a computer-aided design computer and supporting software programs that are capable of creating a three-dimensional drawing of a desired object and converting the drawing into multiple elevation layer data, and (g) a three-dimensional motion controller electronically linked to the mechanical movement devices and operative to actuate these movement devices in response to the drive signals received from the computer.

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Auburn, AL, United States of America

Erjian Ma