Deere & Company

Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

Matthew Frank

Hema V Guthy

Eric M Johnson

Ali Tayh

Darren J Hellman

Kalathur Pattabiraman

Michael C Paisley

A manufacturing method uses layered slabs to create a final pattern for a mold or for creating the mold itself. The method includes: preparing a desired number of slabs including a first slab and a second slab; machining the first slab; machining the second slab; and after the second slab is coupled to the first slab, repeating the machining step for each additional slab included in the desired number of slabs to form the final pattern or mold.

Layered slab manufacturing system and method

A method of cutting metallic foams that eliminates the problem of smeared surfaces is provided. The method involves infiltration of the foam with another material to serve as a support structure to the foam when being cut. The method can be executed using softer polymeric materials such as waxes, which are then frozen for machining. These materials are subsequently heated and removed from the foam. In a similar manner, epoxy material can be used, which requires no freezing. In this method, the epoxy material is burnt from the foam upon completion of machining. The method allows for machining foams using conventional machining processes, rather than non traditional methods such as electrical discharge machining.

Method for machining metallic foam

Growing community of inventors

Ames, IA, United States of America

Matthew Frank