Divergent Technologies, Inc.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Steven Blair Massey, Jr

Eahab Nagi El Naga

Antonio Bernerd Martinez

Narender Shankar Lakshman

Todd Earl Holverson

James Lee Uecker

Broc William TenHouten

Kevin Robert Czinger

Jon Paul Gunner

David Brian TenHouten

Muhammad Faizan Zafar

William David Kreig

Keith Allen Fleming

Alexander Pai-chung Teng

Ross Harrison Byers

Disclosed are systems and methods to plan a path to form a part using an additive manufacturing system. The additive manufacturing system may include one or more additive manufacturing tools. The additive manufacturing tools may include arc welding tools and non-arc welding tools. The system may also manufacture the part based on the planned path.

Path planning systems and methods for additive manufacturing

A high precision Interface Node is disclosed. The Interface Node includes an integrated structure including one or more complex or sophisticated features and functions. The Interface Node may connect with another component or a Linking Node. The Interface Node is manufactured to achieve high precision functionality while enabling volume production. Current additive manufacturing technologies allow for the printing of high precision features to be manufactured, but generally this is performed at a slower rate. Consequently, in one aspect, the size of the Interface Nodes is reduced in order to overcome at least part of the slower production volume caused by creating the high precision Interface Nodes. The components and Linking Nodes to which the Interface Node is connected may only have basic features and functions. Accordingly, this latter category of components may use a high print rate and thus high production volume. In other embodiments, these low precision components may also be produced using a non-print manufacturing technology, such as casting, forging, etc., that may provide the requisite high throughput, or to high precision machined parts that lack the geometric flexibility of the Interface Node. In an embodiment, the Interface Nodes may be connected to other components via a Linking Node.

Structures and methods for high volume production of complex structures using interface nodes

The present disclosure relates to custom additively manufactured core structures and the manufacture thereof. In one aspect, a panel for use in a transport structure includes first and second face sheets, and an additively manufactured (AM) core affixed between the first and second face sheets. The AM core is foldable such that at least one portion of the AM core is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for producing a panel for use in a transport structure includes additively manufacturing a core is disclosed.

Custom additively manufactured core structures

Systems, apparatus, and method for manufacturing a structure are disclosed. The structure includes a first portion, a second portion, and a structural joint. The apparatus is configured to receive instructions for printing the structural joint. The instructions are based on a data model of the structural joint. The apparatus is also configured to receive the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a first conical tip and the second portion having a second conical tip. The apparatus is further configured to receive material. Additionally, the apparatus is configured to print the structural joint based on the instructions. The printing may include spray forming the material to produce the structural joint. The structural joint connects the first portion to the second portion.

Spray forming structural joints

Apparatus and methods for sealing powder holes in additively manufactured parts are presented herein. Powder holes are co-printed to facilitate post processing sealing. Embodiments include co-printed caps, friction welded caps, rivets, silicone plugs, co-printed tangs, multiple micro holes, layup, and spin forming. By using one or more of the above techniques, powder holes can be sealed on additively manufactured parts.

Apparatus and methods for sealing powder holes in additively manufactured parts

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for weld wire preheating are disclosed. Some examples of the present disclosure relate to welding-type systems that use one or more preheaters to heat welding wire prior to an arc and/or deposition on a weldment. The welding wire may have one or more characteristics. A preheating control may determine a governing characteristic of the one or more welding wire characteristics and establish a threshold temperature and/or target temperature based on the governing characteristic. The preheating control may further control the one or more preheaters based on the threshold temperature and/or target temperature, in order to avoid a deformation and/or degradation of the welding wire that would impact column strength, wire feeding, weld process stability, and/or welding consumable longevity.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Steven Blair Massey, Jr