This invention generally relates to manufacturing processes, and deals more particularly with a method for manufacturing a part having an integrated component.
A wide array of manufactured parts incorporate individual components that are integrated or encapsulated into the body of the part during the manufacturing process. For example, components in the form of inserts are sometimes placed in a mold before molding material is introduced into a mold cavity surrounding the insert. Following molding, the inserted component becomes integrated within the part.
As an alternative to traditional manufacturing processes such as molding and machining, newer technologies are being used with increasing frequency to fabricate physical objects directly from CAD (Computer Aided Design) data files. These methods, also known as rapid prototyping, are unique in that they add and bond materials in layers to form the objects. Such technologies are sometimes referred to as free-form fabrication, solid free-form fabrication and layered manufacturing. These are additive type processes offering advantages in many applications, compared to molding or traditional subtractive fabrication methods such as milling or turning. For example, objects can be formed with high geometric complexity or intricacy without the need for elaborate machine setup or final assembly. Further, free-form fabrication reduces the construction of complex objects to manageable, straight forward and relatively fast processing.
Free-form fabrication technologies of the type described above are normally limited in their application to short production runs and monolithic parts. Therefore, where it is desired to add components such as connectors, sensors or other features, it is necessary to perform secondary operations on the free-form fabricated part such as drilling, screwing or molding components onto the part.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method of free-form fabrication of parts with integrated, discrete components or inserts. The present invention is directed towards satisfying this need.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for manufacturing a part having an integrated component, comprising the steps of using computer automated, solid free-form fabrication to combine successive layers of the material forming solid features of the part, and interposing the component between the layers as they are being formed in order to integrate the component into the layers. The fabrication process is carried out in three steps. First, several layers of material are combined to form a partially complete part. The layering process is then paused while the desired component is placed on the first set of layers and held in a fixed position. The remaining layers are then combined to cover and thereby integrate the component into the finished part. The free-form fabrication is preferably carried out using fused deposition modeling or stereolithography. The free-form fabrication process is directly controlled by a digital CAD file representing a drawing of the part.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a process is provided for producing a part having a body and a component integrated into the body, comprising the steps of flowing successive layers of a heated thermoplastic material on top of each other in a manner to form a body, and interposing the component between at least certain other layers such that the component becomes fixed within the body when the thermoplastic material solidifies after cooling. The layers are preferably formed by heating the thermoplastic material and extruding it from an extrusion head as a bead which is moved relative to the part to form the layers.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a part having a body containing an integrated component comprises the steps of producing a CAD drawing file representing the part, generating a set of programmed instructions using the CAD drawing file, forming solid features of the body by using computer automated, solid free-form fabrication, controlling the computer automated fabrication using the programmed instructions, and interposing the component into the body while the solid features are being formed.
Various additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow.
The present invention involves a method and process for manufacturing a part having an integrated or encapsulated component. An exemplary part that may be manufactured using the process of the present invention is shown in
The tool 10 further includes a hollow neck 14 which communicates with the open interior of the head 12 and is provided with an outer end 17 that is circular in cross section. One or more clear plastic windows 24 are integrated into the side walls of the head 12 to allow a user to view the space inside the head 12, and more particularly, the exact location on the object where the drill bit will penetrate the object.
In use, a vacuum hose (not shown) is connected to the end 17 of the tool 10 while the user holds the tool 10 against an object to be drilled. The vacuum hose creates Suction in the neck 17, which draws in air through the openings 16 and evacuates workpiece chips from the head 12. The user inserts the drill bit into the through hole 22 until the tip of the bit contacts the object at the location where a hole is to be drilled. The user may view the tip of the drill bit through windows 24, in order to precisely position the tip at the exact location where the hole is to be drilled. The windows 24 also allow the user to view the operation of the drill, and particularly the production of workpiece chips to assure that the chips are being properly evacuated from the drill site.
In the past, it was difficult for a user to confirm that the drill tip was precisely located on the object due to the fact that the entire body of the part 10 was opaque, preventing the user from seeing the exact placement of the drill tip. Using the process of the present invention, however, a tool can be produced which is provided with clear plastic windows 24, thereby solving the problem of the user not being able to visually see the placement of the drill bit tip.
In accordance with the present invention a solid free-form fabrication technique is employed to manufacture the tool part 10, in which the part is formed by an additive layering process that combines plastic or other substances to create a solid object. The solid free-form fabrication technique is a type of so-called direct digital manufacturing in which the production process is directly controlled by a digital data file, typically a CAD data file.
Depending on the type of part to be fabricated, any of several well known, solid free-form fabrication techniques may be employed, such as stereolithography, 3-D ink jet printing or fused deposition modeling. In sterolithography, 3-D objects are constructed from liquid photosensitive polymers that solidify when exposed to ultraviolet light. The object is constructed on a platform that is situated just below the surface of a vat of liquid epoxy or acrylate resin. A low power, highly focused UV laser traces out the first layer, solidifying the model's cross section while leaving excess areas liquid. An elevator incrementally lowers the platform into the liquid polymer. A sweeper recoats the solidified layer with liquid, and the laser traces the second layer atop the first. This process is repeated, all under automated computer control, until the object is complete. Thereafter, the solid part is removed from the vat and rinsed clean of excess liquid. Part supports are broken off and the part is placed in an ultraviolet oven for complete curing.
In 3-D ink jet printing parts are built on a platform situated in a bin filled with powder material. An ink jet printing head selectively deposits or “prints” a binder fluid to fuse the powder together in the desired areas. Unbound powder remains to support the part. The platform is lowered, more powder added and leveled, and the process is repeated, all under automated computer control. When finished, the green part is removed from the unbound powder and excess unbound powder is blown off. The finished part is infiltrated with wax, glue or other sealants to improve durability and surface finish.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM), which will be described later in more detail, has been found to be particularly suitable as a fabrication technique in connection with the present invention. Briefly, in fused deposition modeling, filaments of heated thermoplastic are extruded from a tip that moves in an X-Y plane. A controlled extrusion head deposits very thin beads of material onto a platform to form the first layer. The platform is maintained at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic so that the thermoplastic quickly hardens. After the platform lowers, the extrusion head deposits a second layer upon the first layer. Supports may be built during the layering process, which are fastened to the part, either with a second weaker material or with a perforated junction.
Reference is now made to
Next, at step 28, the CAD model file generated in step 26 is modified to create openings in the model corresponding to the shape and location of the windows 24. In order to assure that the part 10 is properly and completely modeled, the modified CAD file is then converted to STL file format, at step 30. The STL (stereolithography) file comprises a plurality of triangles or facets which define every feature of the part 10. Each facet is defined by the position of its three corners in space, and its direction, which distinguishes between internal and external surfaces of the part 10. Each facet is connected to three others at its edges, so that the total volume of the model may be enclosed.
With the digital CAD file having been converted to STL format, it is then processed at step 32 which involves slicing the model of the part 10 into a plurality of cross sections or thin layers. This is accomplished by dividing the CAD model with a series of closely spaced horizontal lines. The resulting file is an SLI or (slice) file which represents a series of closely spaced cross sections of the 3-D part model. The sliced STL file, which is in digital format, is then used to control a computer automated machine that performs solid free-form fabrication of the part, such as an FDM machine. Step 32 also includes programming an automatic pause in the operation of the FDM machine. As will become apparent below, this pause provides a brief interruption in the layering operation which allows an operator to insert a component into the partially formed part.
Referring now momentarily to
The head 68 includes feed rollers 80 which feed each filament 76, 78 through the body of the liquifier head 68 which is heated to a temperature slightly above the melting point of the filament, resulting in a flowable bead of the thermoplastic material passing through the extrusion nozzle 70, 72. As the head 68 is moved along the X-Y axes under computer control, a closely controlled bead is deposited, typically on a foam slab 54 supported by the build platform 56.
As the head 68 is moved over the build platform 56 it deposits a thin bead 48 of extruded plastic to form each layer. The plastic hardens immediately after it is dispensed from the extrusion nozzles 70, 72 and bonds to the layer below. The entire FDM machine 52 is normally contained in an oven chamber which is held at a temperature just below the melting point of the thermoplastic. The support structures 62 are later removed from the object 60 in secondary operations simply by breaking them away from the object. Water soluble support materials are also available which can be removed simply by washing them away.
The filament 76 used to build the object 60 may comprise any of several commonly available materials such as ABS, polycarbonate or polyphenylsulfone. Where stereolithography techniques are used rather than FDM, the build material may comprise an elastomer or investment casting wax.
Referring now particularly to
After a predetermined number of initial layers 48 are formed, the FDM machine automatically pauses in its operation at step 36, and the component (in this case window 24) is then inserted at step 38, within the partially defined opening created by the space left between the initial layers 48. Although not shown in the drawings, the support filament 66 can be used to fabricate a fixture or support for holding the window 24 in place until the part is complete, following which the support may be removed.
With the component (window 24) having been inserted in the part opening, the FDM machine resumes operation at step 40. Subsequent layers 50 are then deposited, eventually covering all sides of the window 24 until the final layers of the body forming the part 10 are completed at step 42. It should be noted here that the component to be inserted, in this case a plastic window 24, should have a melting temperature greater than that of the filament material used to build the part.
Although this invention has been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, as other variations will occur to those of skill in the art. For example, the invention is well suited to integrate or encapsulate various types of components into a part. Examples of these components would be sensors and RFID tags.