Loading feedstock into an additive friction stir deposition machine

• Main Authors: Bruno Zamorano Senderos, Rogelio Rodriguez
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.04.2021
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Method of loading feedstock bars 106 into additive friction stir deposition AFSD machine 102 by containing feedstock bars 106 in a container 104 adjacent a spindle 108 of a friction stir machine 102 and moving a feedstock bar 106A into axial alignment with the spindle 108. The feedstock bar 106A may be inserted into the spindle 108. Axial alignment of the bar 106A may comprise contacting the bar 106A with a staging actuator or actuating a spring or a rotating lever or rotating the plurality of bars 106. The feedstock bars 106 may be connected via a chain. Axial alignment of the bar 106A may comprise driving the bars via a motor coupled to the chain. The container 104 may comprise a helicoid spring which biases the feedstock bars 106. Also claimed area container and system for loading feedstock bars.