Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-21
2004-06-08
Olms, Douglas (Department: 2661)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
C029S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06745446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an improved method for producing mechanical parts and objects, particularly prototypes, from a specific computer-aided design, to the elemental laminations produced by such a method, and to the prototypes obtained by assembling such elemental laminations.
Known methods for producing a mechanical part or object, including prototypes, from a specific computer-aided design generally include the successive steps of manufacturing the part in elemental layers or laminations, building up the collection of layers and assembling the layers. The laminations result from a prior breakdown of the part along plural planes, and one or more defined steps.
A rapid prototyping method of this general type is described in European Patent EP-0 585 502-B1, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference, and is known by the trademark “STRATOCONCEPTION”.
The method of the present invention is fully compatible with the applications specified in European Patent EP-0 585 502. In practice, however, the disclosed rapid prototyping method has been found to have limits in the production of parts with complex shapes. This is particularly so when the micromachining tool which is used to perform the method has to, or should produce contours on one face of a lamination and then on the other face of the lamination being machined.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method which permits the machining of laminations having such complex shapes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved with an improved method for producing mechanical parts and objects from a specific computer-aided design. The method generally includes the successive steps of manufacturing the parts in elemental layers or laminations, building up the collection of layers, and assembling the layers to form the part. The elemental layers or laminations result from a prior breakdown of the part along a plurality of planes, and one or more defined steps. At least portions of a lamination are turned through 180° (i.e., turned over) after one of its faces has been machined, so that the other face of the lamination can be machined after the lamination has been turned over. In an alternative implementation of the method of the present invention, the entire lamination will be subjected to the foregoing operation.
In yet another alternative implementation of the method of the present invention, the lamination is cut into two or more sub-laminations, along one or more cutting planes which are roughly vertical. Only those sub-laminations which contain a portion which cannot be machined in the customary way are turned over.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3612387 (1971-10-01), Rathbun
patent: 3790152 (1974-02-01), Parsons
patent: 3932923 (1976-01-01), DiMatteo
patent: 4001069 (1977-01-01), DiMatteo
patent: 4675825 (1987-06-01), DeMenthon
patent: 4752352 (1988-06-01), Feygin
patent: 5015312 (1991-05-01), Kinzie
patent: 5031483 (1991-07-01), Weaver
patent: 5354414 (1994-10-01), Feygin
patent: 5514232 (1996-05-01), Burns
patent: 5663883 (1997-09-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5765137 (1998-06-01), Lee
patent: 5793015 (1998-08-01), Walczyk
patent: 5847958 (1998-12-01), Shaikh et al.
patent: 6136132 (2000-10-01), Kinzie
patent: 6324438 (2001-11-01), Cormier et al.
patent: 3711470 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 4041105 (1992-06-01), None
patent: 0585502 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 0606627 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 0655317 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 0655668 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 0738583 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 0811457 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 2233137 (1975-01-01), None
patent: 2673302 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 2750064 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 2011814 (1979-07-01), None
patent: WO/9112120 (1991-08-01), None
patent: WO/9508416 (1995-03-01), None
US 2003/0006001 A1 (Yang et al.)-Published: Jan. 9, 2003.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 016, No. 370 (M-1292) Published: Aug. 10, 1992 (pertaining to JP 04 118221 (Fujitsu Ltd.), published Apr. 20, 1992).
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 1995, No. 11 Published: Dec. 26, 1995 (pertaining to JP 07 214274 (U Mold:KK), published Aug. 15, 1995).
Blount Steven
C.I.R.T.E.S. (Centre d'Ingenierie de Recherche et de Transf
Cohen Gary M.
Olms Douglas
LandOfFree
Method for producing mechanical parts from an assembly of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for producing mechanical parts from an assembly of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for producing mechanical parts from an assembly of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3345952