SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING REINFORCEMENT MEMBER PLACEMENT IN AN ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED STRUCTURE

• Main Authors: Sheppard, Collin McKee, Turnquist, Norman Arnold, Kenny, Christopher James, Li, Xiaopeng
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 31.01.2024
• Subjects: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OFTHREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVEAGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING,STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING; BLASTING; BUILDING; BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; FENCING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MASTS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WIND MOTORS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

The present application presents novel systems and methods for tracking reinforcement member placement in an additively manufactured structure that are simple, accurate, non-labor-intensive, and cost-effective. The present application also presents a novel method of manufacturing a tower structure comprising: depositing, via an additive printing system, a first printed layer of a wall with a printhead assembly, the wall at least partially circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure; positioning a first reinforcement member on the first printed layer; depositing, via the additive printing system, a second printed layer of the wall with the printhead assembly on the first reinforcement member, the second printed layer configured to hold a second reinforcement member thereon; and determining, via an optical sensor of the additive printing system, a position for placing the second reinforcement member based on the first reinforcement member positioning.