System for rapid manufacturing of replacement aerospace parts
View Patent ↗An method for the rapid manufacturing of aerospace replacement parts 100 is provided, including removing an in-service aerospace part from an aerospace system 120 . The present invention further includes placing the in-service aerospace part into a three-dimensional scanning device 130 . The invention then scans the in-service aerospace part utilizing the three-dimensional scanning device to develop a three-dimensional scan 140 . A computer-aided-design model is then developed based on the three-dimensional scan 150 . The invention then direct metal fabricates a replacement aerospace part from the computer-aided-design model utilizing layer-build technology device 170 . Finally the replacement aerospace part is installed back into the aerospace system 180.
1. A method for the rapid manufacturing of aerospace replacement parts comprising:
inserting a part into an aerospace system;
operating said aerospace system until said part is modified, said part becoming an in-service aerospace part;
removing said in-service aerospace part from an aerospace system;
placing said in-service aerospace part into a three-dimensional scanning device;
scanning said in-service aerospace part utilizing said three-dimensional scanning device to develop a three-dimensional scan;
developing a computer-aided-design model based on said three-dimensional scan;
direct metal fabricating a replacement aerospace part from said computer-aided-design model utilizing layer-build technology device; and
installing said replacement aerospace part in said aerospace system.
2. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein said scanning utilizing said three-dimensional scanning device comprises performing a computed-tomography scan utilizing a computed-tomography scanner.
3. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein said scanning utilizing said three-dimensional scanning device comprises performing a laser scan utilizing a laser scanner.
4. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein said scanning utilizing said three-dimensional scanning device comprises performing a touch probe scan utilizing a touch probe scanner.
5. A method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
performing analysis to refine the computer-aided design model.
6. A method as described in claim 5 , wherein said analysis comprises modification of the computer-aided design model.
7. A method as described in claim 1 , wherein said direct metal fabricating comprises selective laser sintering.
8. A method as described in claim 1 , further comprising comprising:
transferring said three-dimensional scan and said computer-aided-design model through a network.
9. A method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:
converting said computer-aided-design model into a stereolithography file.
10. An apparatus for the rapid manufacturing of aerospace replacement parts comprising:
a three-dimensional scanning device for scanning an in-service aerospace part, said in-service aerospace part having been operated within an aerospace system until modified, said three-dimensional scanning device developing a three dimensional scan;
a computer-aided-design workstation networked to said three-dimensional scanning device, said computer-aided-design workstation developing a computer-aided-design model from said three-dimensional scan; and
a selective laser sintering station networked to said computer-aided-design workstation, said selective laser sintering station generating a replacement aerospace part corresponding to said in-service aerospace part.
11. An apparatus as described in claim 10 further comprising: an analysis workstation networked to said computer-aided-design workstation, said analysis workstation modifying said computer-aided-design model.