Apparatus and methods for improvement of surface geometries of internal channels of additively manufactured components

1. A cutting system for removing an excess material along a length of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process, comprising:

a cutter head;

a cutter blade attached to the cutter head;

a cutter base connected to the cutter head and having a cutter base outer surface configured to contact an internal surface within the channel to guide the cutter blade against the excess material;

a drive cable rotatably connected to and configured to rotate the cutter head and the cutter base,

wherein the cutter base outer surface has a substantially cylindrical shape and the cutter blade extends radially outward of the cutter base outer surface; and

a fulcrum having a central hollow portion configured to receive the drive cable along a length of the fulcrum.

2. The cutting system of claim 1 , wherein the internal surface is an up-facing surface resulting from the additive manufacturing process.

3. The cutting system of claim 2 , wherein the excess material is disposed on a down-facing surface resulting from the additive manufacturing process.

4. The cutting system of claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum is disposed upstream of the cutter head.

5. The cutting system of claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum is configured to rotate with the drive cable.

6. The cutting system of claim 1 , further comprising a directional cable configured to direct the cutter head through the channel.

7. The cutting system of claim 6 , wherein the directional cable is configured to urge the cutter head toward the excess material.

8. The cutting system of claim 7 , wherein the directional cable is configured to urge the cutter head away from an up-facing surface.

9. The cutting system of claim 8 , wherein the directional cable is connected to the cutter base.

10. The cutting system of claim 8 , wherein the directional cable is connected to a cutter pedestal.

11. The cutting system of claim 10 , wherein the cutter base is configured to rotate relative to the cutter pedestal and the cutter pedestal is configured to remain stationary with respect to the drive cable.

12. A cutting system for smoothing a down-facing surface of a channel constructed using an additive manufacturing process, comprising:

a cutter head;

a cutter blade attached to the cutter head;

a cutter base connected to the cutter head and having a cutter base outer surface configured to contact an up-facing surface within the channel to guide the cutter blade against the down-facing surface;

a drive cable rotatably connected to and configured to rotate the cutter head and the cutter base, wherein the cutter base outer surface has a substantially cylindrical shape and the cutter blade extends radially outward of the cutter base outer surface; and

a fulcrum having a central hollow portion configured to receive the drive cable along a length of the fulcrum.

13. The cutting system of claim 12 , wherein the cutter head is connected to the cutter base via a hinge connecting the cutter base to a cutter pedestal, the cutter head being rotatably connected to the cutter pedestal.

14. The cutting system of claim 13 , wherein the drive cable is connected to the cutter head and the hinge is configured to transition the cutter head between a cutting configuration and a non-cutting configuration.

15. The cutting system of claim 12 , further comprising a housing extending along the drive cable and having a first end configured to contact the cutter base while the cutting system assumes a cutting configuration.

16. The cutting system of claim 15 , further comprising an actuator configured to apply an axial load on the drive cable while the cutting system assumes the cutting configuration.

17. The cutting system of claim 16 , wherein the housing is configured to rotate with the drive cable.