The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 2024
Filed:
Aug. 12, 2021
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Falls Church, VA (US);
Vernon M. Benson, Morgan, UT (US);
NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US);
Abstract
A continuous filament additive manufacturing machine for building a part by laying down a continuous mono-filament or composite filament material layer by layer on a tool or substrate. The machine includes a system operable to move in at least three degrees of freedom, and a placement module coupled to the system and being configured to deposit the continuous filament material. The placement module includes a guide for guiding the material to the part and an ultrasonic compaction device for compacting the material as it is being deposited from the placement module. The compaction device includes an ultrasonic driver, an attachment member and a plurality of ultrasonic horns independently coupled to the attachment member and being movable independent of each other. The plurality of ultrasonic horns are ultrasonically vibrated to melt or flow the material and cause the material to fuse and be compacted to the tool or substrate.