SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THREE DIMENSIONAL (3D) OBJECT, PART AND COMPONENT MANUFACTURE INCLUDING DISPLACEMENT/VIBRATION WELDED OR HEAT STAKED LAMINATES

• Main Authors: SMITH, Bruce H, ISLAM, Abu Saeed, MOORE, Steven R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.09.2018
• 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; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

A system and method are provided for implementing relatively low temperature joining processes, including displacement/vibration welding techniques and/or heat staking techniques, in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components in additive material (AM) manufacturing systems. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through comparatively low temperature welding or other mechanical joining (including displacement/vibration welding or heat staking); and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).