Claims
- 1. A method for shaping a mass of material comprising:
- suspending said mass in a gaseous atmosphere capable of transmitting acoustic energy;
- applying heat to only a middle portion of said mass to melt only said middle portion;
- applying acoustic energy to unmelted opposite sides of said mass to squeeze said melted middle mass portion between them; and
- allowing said middle mass portion to solidify.
- 2. A method for shaping a mass of material, comprising:
- suspending said mass in a gaseous atmosphere capable of transmitting acoustic energy;
- heating at least a portion of said mass to a substantially molten state;
- continually drawing a thread of said material from a substantially molten portion of said mass; and
- applying acoustic energy to opposite sides of said drawn thread to flatten said thread into a ribbon while allowing it to cool.
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 Stat. 435; 42 USC 2457).
US Referenced Citations (10)