The Boeing Company

Michael Drumheller

Alan K Jones

Charles A Erignac

Paul Zack Thunemann

Troy Winfree

Huseyin Erdim

Craig S Bosma

Jeffrey David Poskin

Frederick K Klein

Frederick W Klein

Alejandro Alberto Ortiz

Eric James Walker

Frederik W Klein

A modeling system is provided which is configured to retrieve from the non-volatile memory the 3D virtual model of an object; define a domain of a parametric surface; project feature curves in the 3D virtual model into the domain of the parametric surface to generate a mapping based on the 3D virtual model and including a plurality of parametric curves; divide the plurality of parametric curves into horizontal and vertical feature curves; extend each of the horizontal feature and vertical feature curves; construct a horizontal interpolant connecting the extended horizontal feature curves; construct a vertical interpolant connecting the extended vertical feature curves; fit the horizontal and vertical interpolants as coordinates of a map to a new parametric domain; and compose the inverse of the map to the new parametric domain with the parametric surface to create a new parametric surface containing the feature curves as isoparametric curves.

Modeling system for 3D virtual model

A method of forming a part includes applying first fiber tows according to a pattern to form a first ply of a set of plies. The method further includes applying second fiber tows according to the pattern to form a second ply of the set of plies that overlies the first ply. The pattern of the second ply is shifted relative to the pattern of the first ply by an offset distance based on a period of the first fiber tows and a number of plies having the pattern in the set of plies.

System and method for forming a part by automated fiber placement

A method of defining a composite tape course to form at least a portion of a composite part ply comprises approximating a contoured surface with a reference plane. The method further includes selecting a three-dimensional reference surface to approximate the contoured surface and defining a first function to correlate a first point from the contoured surface to a first intermediate point on the reference surface. The method includes selecting the reference plane to approximate the reference surface, defining a second function to correlate the first intermediate point to a reference point in the reference plane, and mapping a ply boundary from the contoured surface to a reference ply boundary in the reference plane. A tape boundary may be mapped from the contoured surface to a reference tape boundary in the reference plane. A tape edge may be defined based at least in part on a reference intersection of the reference ply boundary and the reference tape boundary in order to form at least a portion of the composite part ply using the defined tape edge.

Tape course generation method and apparatus for programming a composite tape lamination machine

Improved methods for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, are provided. A method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing constraint objects, including at least one adaptively-sampled distance field (adaptive distance field or ADF) constraint object, in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various constraint objects, including the at least one ADF constraint object. In addition, a method may establish an overall cost function to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the constraint objects, including at least one ADF constraint object, such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed.

Adaptive distance field constraint for designing a route for a transport element

An improved method for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, is provided. The method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing constraint objects in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various constraint objects. In addition, the method of the present invention may establish an overall cost function to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the constraint objects such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed. Constraints may be based upon the routing of the transport element in relation to another transport element, an additional constraint, or a relaxed constraint.

Constraint-based method of designing a route for a transport element

A tape course generator produces tape course definitions for use in programming a CNC composite tape lamination machine. The tape course generator includes a reference surface parameterizer that maps a contoured surface onto a parametric reference surface, and a reference plane instantiator that maps the reference surface onto a reference plane. The tape course generator also includes a tape boundary plotter that plots a tape boundary, and a boundary mapper that maps the tape boundary and a ply boundary into the reference plane. In addition, the tape course generator includes an intersection locator that identifies intersections of the ply boundary and the tape boundary, and a tape course delimiter that defines tape cuts and determines which points in the reference plane are within a tape course. Moreover, the tape course generator includes a tape course transformer that maps the defined tape course back onto the contoured surface.

An improved method for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, is provided. The method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing path constraints in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various path constraints. In addition, the method of the present invention may establish a selection criterion to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the path constraints such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Michael Drumheller