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:
Dec. 23, 2025
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2024
Bond Technologies, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US);
Timothy John Haynie, Union, MI (US);
John Andrew Bosker, South Bend, IN (US);
Timothy Wayne Wagler, South Bend, IN (US);
Arnold David Wright, Elkhart, IN (US);
Kendall James Mckenzie, Granger, IN (US);
Bond Technologies, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for a continuous supply of feedstock for a friction stir additive manufacturing method has a rod supply system that transports feedstock segments to a shuttle. The rod supply system has actuators that are coupled to allow movement of the delivery point of the feedstock. The shuttle indexes the feedstock to be on axis with the spindle and rotates it to match the speed and orientation of the spindle before it makes contact with other feedstock currently being deposited. An upper thrust mechanism moves the feedstock from the shuttle to a one-way collet and applies deposition pressure through the collet while the collet raises. Once raised, the collet then applies deposition pressure to the feedstock and the upper thrust mechanism retracts so the shuttle can index again and present additional feedstock. The process can repeat to continuously supply feedstock until the workpiece is complete.