Additive manufacturing of elastomeric seals for repair

1. A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly having a fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit, and an original sealing member received in a sealing feature of the fluid conduit and providing a seal between the fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, the method comprising:

determining that the sealing feature has an abnormality that at least one of (i) impedes the seal by the original sealing member between the fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit, and (ii) forms a leak path;

modifying the sealing feature to reduce or remove the abnormality, resulting in modified dimensions of the sealing feature;

scanning the sealing feature with the modified dimensions;

creating a 3D model of a modified sealing member to be used in place of the original sealing member, the modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature with the modified dimensions; and

utilizing the 3D model to form the modified sealing member via additive manufacturing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein scanning the sealing feature includes determining the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member corresponds to the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the modified sealing member includes dimensions that correspond to the modified dimensions of the sealing feature.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sealing member is non-round.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the sealing feature includes at least one of machining and grinding.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member is elongated in at least one direction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing feature includes at least one of a gland and a recess.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein additive manufacturing includes stereolithography.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member is formed at least partially from an acrylic-based photo-curing polymer.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the acrylic-based photo-curing polymer is a silicone elastomer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member includes at least one of silicone urethane and thermoplastic urethane.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality.

15. The method of claim 1 , including

scanning a sealing feature of a different fluid conduit, the sealing feature including an abnormality;

creating a 3D model of a second modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature of the different fluid conduit; and

utilizing the 3D model to form the second modified sealing member via additive manufacturing;

wherein the second modified sealing member is different from the modified sealing member.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein material is not added to the fluid conduit.

17. The method of claim 4 ,

wherein the sealing member includes an oval-shaped cross section.

18. The method of claim 1 , including determining if the modified sealing member will move during operation; wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality if the sealing member will not move during operation; and the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes dimensions corresponding to modified dimensions of the sealing feature if the modified sealing member will move during operation.

19. A method of modifying or repairing a fluid conduit assembly, comprising:

scanning a sealing feature;

creating a 3D model of a modified sealing member to be used in place of the original sealing member, the modified sealing member configured to provide a fluid seal with the sealing feature;

utilizing the 3D model to form the modified sealing member via additive manufacturing; and

determining if the modified sealing member will move during operation; wherein the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes one or more features that mirror the abnormality if the sealing member will not move during operation; and the 3D model of the modified sealing member includes dimensions corresponding to modified dimensions of the sealing feature if the modified sealing member will move during operation.