IP Library Granted Patent US 10,065,241
Granted Patent B2
US 10,065,241 · App. 14/943,067 · Granted Sep 4, 2018

Combined additive manufacturing and machining system

Inventor: Bryan Galbraith Dods (Greer, SC)
Assignee: General Electric Company
B22F3/1055B22F3/04B22F3/115B22F3/24B23K26/342B23P23/04B23P25/003B23Q11/1053B29C64/20B33Y10/00B33Y30/00B33Y40/00C23C24/04B22F2003/1056B22F2003/247B22F2201/11B22F2201/12B22F2998/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,065,241
App. No.
14/943,067
Granted
Sep 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present application provides a combined additive manufacturing and machining system. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system may include an outer chamber, an additive manufacturing tool positioned within the outer chamber, a machining tool positioned within the outer chamber, and a cryogenic fluid source in communication with the machining tool.

Claims (33)

1. A combined additive manufacturing and machining system, comprising:

an outer chamber;

an additive manufacturing tool positioned within the outer chamber;

a machining tool positioned within the outer chamber; and

a cryogenic fluid source in communication with the machining tool, wherein the cryogenic fluid source comprises an inert fluid configured to evaporate after a machining process to provide an inert atmosphere for the additive manufacturing tool for an additive process.

2. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a laser deposition welding tool.

3. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a laser.

4. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a nozzle in communication with a metal source.

5. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 4 , wherein the metal source comprises a metal powder stream or a metal wire.

6. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 4 , wherein the metal source comprises a superalloy.

7. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the machining tool comprises a tool head.

8. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 7 , wherein the tool head comprises a cooling nozzle in communication with the cryogenic fluid source.

9. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the inert fluid comprises helium or argon.

10. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic fluid source comprises nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

11. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tool shuttles for positioning the additive manufacturing tool and/or the machining tool.

12. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 1 , further comprising a work table.

13. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 12 , wherein the work table comprises a rotary table and/or a swivel assembly.

14. A method of manufacturing and finishing a component, comprising:

layering a superalloy within a chamber;

fusing the superalloy with an energy source to create the component;

machining the component with a cryogenically cooled machine tool within the chamber; and

evaporating an inert fluid of the cryogenically cooled machine tool within the chamber after machining the component to provide an inert atmosphere for an additive process.

15. A combined additive manufacturing and machining system for creating and finishing a component, comprising:

an outer chamber;

an additive manufacturing tool positioned within the outer chamber;

a machining tool positioned within the outer chamber;

a cryogenic fluid source in communication with the machining tool, wherein the cryogenic fluid source comprises an inert fluid configured to evaporate after a machining process to provide an inert atmosphere for the additive manufacturing tool for an additive process;

one or more tool shuttles for positioning the additive manufacturing tool and/or the machining tool; and

a work table for supporting the component.

16. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 15 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a laser deposition welding tool.

17. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 15 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a laser and a nozzle in communication with a metal source.

18. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 15 , wherein the machining tool comprises a tool head and a cooling nozzle in communication with the cryogenic fluid source.

19. The combined additive manufacturing and machining system of claim 15 , wherein the cryogenic fluid source comprises helium, argon, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: DODS, BRYAN GALBRAITH
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 037054/0286 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170136540A1 · May 18, 2017