Methods for forming thermoplastic parts with freeform tooling

• Main Authors: Bartel, Aaron W, Gideon, David Eric, Lyons, Brett I
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.12.2019
• 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; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a method of prototyping a thermoplastic composite part. The method comprises fabricating one or more discardable freeform tooling elements via a rapid manufacturing process. The method further comprises forming thermoplastic composite materials into a thermoplastic composite prototype part using the one or more discardable freeform tooling elements. The method further comprises separating the thermoplastic composite prototype part from the one or more discardable freeform tooling elements.