Rapidflight Holdings, LLC

Local Motors Ip, LLC

Timofei Novikov

David Riha

Charles C Hill

Robert Bedsole

Alexis Fiechter

Kyle Rowe

Charles Hill

Methods and apparatus for additive manufacturing. In a method for additive manufacturing, a build sheet can be positioned on a print substrate of a printer. An object can be printed on the build sheet. The object can be detached from the build sheet. Advantageously, the build sheet can prevent the object from shifting on the build sheet during printing. Removing the build sheet from the object does not result in significant deformation or bending of the object. Damage to the object can be prevented. The object does not require additional cleaning or finishing for removing any residual or material. The build sheet can be ready for reuse. The build sheet can advantageously have mechanical strength to sustain removal of the build sheet from the object.

Method and apparatus for additive manufacturing

An additively manufactured structure and methods for making and using same. An object can be printed at least partially on an attachment portion. The attachment portion can be bonded to the object upon the printing. The object does not need to be removed from the attachment portion. The need of providing a print surface to allow easy removal of the object is eliminated. The object can be a flat panel and can eliminate the need of printing a large flat layer using additive manufacturing. The attachment portion can be cut prior to the printing, so no trimming needs to be performed after the printing. The attachment portion can be made of a material that has one or more selected properties to expand functionalities of the object. A secondary operation for attaching the attachment portion to the object after the printing can be eliminated.

Additively manufactured structure and method for making the same

An additively manufactured structure and methods for making and using same. In a method for making the structure, a first layer structure can be formed. A second layer structure can be formed on the first layer structure and a support structure. The support structure can be removed from the second layer structure. The second layer structure can include an overhang structure that does not deform or break after the support structure is removed. The support structure can provide support to the second layer structure during printing. Strong bridging capability of the second layer structure is not required. The support structure can be quick and easy to make. The support structure can be reusable and does not add weight to the printed structure. The support structure can be easily removed after completing of printing. Installation of the support structure can be fast without significantly interfering with printing process.

A system for part location and long-range scanning of large additively manufactured structures and method for using the same. In some embodiments, the method for locating and scanning a three-dimensional (3D) object comprises scanning a first portion of the 3D object from a first position via a long-range scanner on a mobile platform, determining whether additional portions of the 3D object require scanning, moving the long-range scanner via the mobile platform to a second position based on said determination that additional portions of the 3D object require scanning, and aligning each portion of the scanned 3D object.

Growing community of inventors

Friendsville, TN, United States of America

Timofei Novikov