Raytheon Company

Geoffrey Chad Spalt

Kent D Christensen

Peter F Harrington

A fused deposition modeling (FDM) extrusion head is configured to receive control signals from a controller. The FDM extrusion head receives a stream of thermofusible material into an input channel; forces the stream of thermofusible material into a liquefier channel using a mechanical driver; heats the stream of thermofusible material within the liquefier channel to a specified temperature above melting point of the thermofusible material; and receives the heated thermofusible material from an outlet of the liquefier channel and expels the heated thermofusible material through an extrusion tip. The controller determines at least one specified location to deposit the heated thermofusible material according to a coordinate system; cause the extrusion nozzle to selectively deposit a first layer of the heated thermofusible material onto a build platform; and after thermal fusion of the first layer is complete, vertically adjust the distance between the extrusion nozzle and the first layer; and select to deposit a second layer immediately on top of the first layer pause deposit a subassembly, or to pause to receive a subassembly onto at least a portion of the first layer.

Application of additive manufacturing processes to efficiently achieve higher levels of hardware integration

Methods and apparatus for a modular utility connection system according to various aspects of the present invention include one or more utilities routed within a housing. The housing connects each of the routed utilities to a suitable preexisting source. The housing may also be linkably connected to one or more additional housings such that only a single housing need be connected to the preexisting source. The housing also comprises access points to each of the utilities allowing a user access to the utility via the housing rather than connecting directly to the source.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Geoffrey Chad Spalt