Rapidly making a contoured part

US5872714A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Furqan Zafar Shaikh · Troy, US
• Gregory H. Smith · Ann Arbor, US
• Michael Raymond Rigley · Westland, US
• Craig Edward Burch · Beverly Hills, US
• Martin Andrew Brogley · Allen Park, US
• Robert Francis Novak · Farmington Hills, US
• Robert W. Grenkowitz · Big Rapids, US
• Gerald Adam Grab · Trenton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 1993
• Grant date: Feb 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Nov 26, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P90/02
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Method of rapidly producing a contoured part, comprising: designing a computer graphic model of the part, sectioning the graphic model into graphic members which are at least one of blocks or slabs, carving a solid member (14-150 mm in thickness) for each of the graphic members, the solid member being proportion to and enveloping such graphic members, the carving being carried out by accessing two or more sides (opposite sides) of such solid member to at least essentially duplicate the corresponding graphic member, and securing the carved solid members together to replicate the graphic model as a usable unitary part. The method can be modified to make castings by carving wax or foam solid members which are assembled to form an investment pattern, the was pattern being used in a shell mold casting steps and the foam pattern being used in evaporative casting steps.